IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  IViicroreproductlons  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


^ 


IS 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
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copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  coL.ieur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommag6e 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^e  et/ou  pellicul^e 


D 


r~W  Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


D 
D 
D 


Cartes  g6ographiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 


[T~7   Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
L,A^    alone  interior  margin/ 


D 


D 


La  reliure  serrde  peut  causer  de  ror*>bre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int^rieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutdes 
[ors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  filmdes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmentaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  methods  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 


D 
D 
D 
D 
D 


D 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 


Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pellicul^es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d^color^es,  tachetdes  ou  piqu^es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtach^es 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Quality  indgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppldmentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refiimed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6x6  filmdes  d  nouveau  de  fagon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

■HH^I 

2 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


re 

idtails 
BS  du 
modifier 
er  une 
filmage 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library  of  Congress 
Photoduplication  Service 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


L'exemplaire  filmd  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Library  of  Congress 
Photoduplication  Service 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  6X6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  l'exemplaire  fiL-n^,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


les 


Les  exemplaires  orig:naux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim^e  sont  filmds  en  commengant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iilustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film^s  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iilustration  et  en  termirant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE'  ,  le 
symbolb  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  arsi  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmds  i  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichd,  il  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  Tangle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


errata 
i  to 


e  pelure, 
ion  d 


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32X 


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2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

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— •'!i|n#*r' 


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Hancock 


The   Life  and  Puhlic  Services 


WiNFiF.ij)  Scon  Hancock, 

Alajor-Citteiiii  I'nileii  Shties  Army;  Deiiiocrnlic  Noininvc  for  /'risideiil  in  1880. 


"'"-ig^JP" 


IJ  V    A .    T.    V  R  E  li  IJ 


n'aH  Of 


CHICAGO; 

HENRY  A.  SUMNER  &  COMPANY,  PUBLISHERS. 

1880. 


e 


A*^'^ 


.\ 


A\'^ 


Vt 


(JOPYBIOHTKD: 

II  K  N  U  V     A  .    S  U  r.I  N  E  K    A    0  O. 

\b80. 


••        -. 


U¥\i  AND  I'Ur.UC  SKIIVICKS 


WiNFiELD  Scott  Hancock. 


)o. 


CHAPTER    I . 

WiNiriBLuScoTT  Hancock  whs  born  noiU-Mont^oniory 
Sqiiaro,  MoiiLtjomery  County,  I'cnnsylviiniii,  on  tlio  1  Uli 
of  Fcl)nuiry,  182-t.  Ho  is  the  son  of  Benjamin  Fnmklin 
and  Elizabeth  Hancock  ;  and  has  two  brothers,  Hihiiy, 
his  twin  brotlier,  and  Jolin,  who  is  some  years  younger. 

When  Winfield  was  four  years  old,  Mr.  Hancock  re- 
moved to  Norristown,  the  county  seat  of  Montt^omery 
County,  and  here  the  lad  received  his  early  education, 
amid  scenes  calculated  to  awaken  the  enthusiasm  and  foster 
the  patriotism  of  any  intelligent  boy.  Blessed  by  nature 
almost  beyond  parallel.  Eastern  Pennsylvania  might  well 
be  called  the  garden  of  the  Lord.  Her  rolling  fields  yield 
rich  harvests  to  repay  the  husbandman's  toil  ;  her  vast 
sweep  of  broad  champaign  and  lovely  glen,  of  tree  clad 
mountain  and  bosky  dell,  ravish  the  eye  of  the  tourist ; 
her  winding  streams — the  broad  Susquehanna  and  Deia- 


wivre,  tliG  "  liliio  Juiiiiitii,"  tlio  placid  Schuylkill,  ami  the 
rotnuiiLic  Wissahiokon — iiro  famed  in  song  ard  story  ;  and 
beneath  her  rich  soil  lie  richer  treasures  in  coal  and  ores 
than  are  gathered  from  the  glittering  mines  of  California 
and  Nevada.  To  the  patriotic  American,  too,  the  spot  is 
holy  ground.  Yonder  at  Brandywine  the  patriot  army 
gallantly  resisted  Howe's  advance  upon  Philadelphia. 
There  at  Germantown  the  sudden  dash  of  Washington 
upon  the  foe,  almost  successful,  was  suddenly  turned  into 
disaster.  Away  to  the  east  lies  the  place  where  the  bril- 
liantly-conceived and  ably-executed  passage  of  the  Dela- 
ware resulted  in  the  victory  of  Trenton.  And  close  at 
hand  is  the  spot  which  lies  nearer  to  the  American  heart 
than  any  of  her  storied  fields  of  fame — Valley  Forge,  the 
camp  in  which,  when  all  the  heavens  were  black  and  all 
the  air  was  full  of  dismay,  a  little  band  of  stern  patriots, 
encouraged  and  cheered  by  their  loved  chief,  kept  alive 
the  fires  on  liberty's  altar. 

Winfield  received  his  schooling  at  the  village  academy  ; 
but  his  education  was  largely  carried  on  at  home.  Mis 
parents  never  entertained  the  delusion  that  their  responsi- 
bility for  their  children  ended  when  tl\ey  ^)aid  the  bills  for 
their  clothing  and  education.  The  watchful  eye  was  al- 
ways upon  them  ;  and  the  successful  general  probably  owes 
more  to  his  father's  tireless  help,  and  his  mother's  loving 
counsel  in  those  early  days  than  to  his  native  abilities  or 
his  own.«xertions.  Winfield  was  an  apt  scholar,  proficient 
in  all  his  studies,  with  a  special  taste  for  scientific  investi- 


uluiylkill,  ami  tliu 
iig  aiul  story  ;  iiiul 
J8  in  coal  and  ores* 
nines  of  California 
an,  too,  the  spot  is 
the  patriot  army 
pon  Philadelphia, 
sh  of  Washington 
Ideidy  turned  into 
ice  where  the  bril- 
lasage  of  the  Dela- 
on.  And  close  at 
he  American  heart 
-Valley  Forge,  the 
wevti  black  and  all 
lI  of  stern  patriots, 
}d  chief,  kept  alive 

le  village  academy  ; 
on  at  home.  Mis 
that  their  responsi- 
ey  paid  the  bills  for 
atchful  eye  was  al- 
iieral  probably  owes 
his  mother's  loving 
3  native  abilities  or 
>t  scholar,  proficient 
or  scientific  investi- 


gation and  an  instinct,  early  doveloimd,  for  childish  parade 
and  the  mimicry  of  war.  In  tiie  sclu)()ll)oys'  juvonilo  drills 
he  was  always  chosen  captain  :  indeed,  lie  was  always  a 
leader  among  his  fellows.  But  he  had  the  respect  and 
good  opinion  of  his  elders  as  well  as  of  his  playmates ;  and 
it  is  evidence  not  only  of  his  proficiency  as  a  scholar,  but 
of  his  high  standing  as  a  boy  that,  whenoidy  fifteen  years 
old,  he  was  selected  by  the  people  of  Norristown  to  read 
in  public  the  Declaration  of  Independence  on  his  country's 
natal  day. 

A  circumstance,  characteristic  of  the  boy  and  of  his 
magnanimity  and  manliness,  took  place  about  this  time. 
At  school  with  Winfield  was  a  poor  little  orphan  boy  over 
whom  some  of  the  larger  scholars  were  disposed  to  tyran- 
nize. Winfield  at  once  took  the  part  of  the  little  fellow, 
fought  his  battle,  shared  with  iiiin  his  pennies,  and  became 
his  hero  and  idol.  Little  Johnnie  Everman  was  poor  and 
weak  then,  and  lame  as  well ;  but  many  years  later,  when 
all  the  world  was  ringing  with  tlie  deeds  of  the  dashing 
soldier,  John  W.  Everman,  the  wealthy  and  honored 
citizen  of  Philadelphia,  introduced  into  the  civic  council 
resolutions  granting  to  Hancock  a  public  reception,  and 
the  freedom  of  the  City  of  Philadelphiq,.  With  his  own 
hand  he  presented  those  resolutions  to  his  former  protector 
in  the  presence  of  the  chivalry  and  beauty  of  Pennsylvania, 
within  the  sacred  precincts  of  Independence  Hall. 

To  Major  Renniman  (Denison)  we  are  indebted  for  an 
account   of  the  circumstances  which   led  to  WJnfield's 


10 

Holoctioii  for  11  ciulotsliip  in  tliu  Uiiitod  Stiitos  Military 
Aciuloiny,  tho  turiiin*^  jtoiiit  of  liin  life.  Tlio  Hon.  Josopli 
Foriiaiico,  the  represciitiitivo  in  Congress  for  the  Mont- 
gomery District,  hud  tho  privilege  of  naming  a  cadet.  A 
resident  of  Philiidel[)hia,  wlio  nursed  ambitious  views 
concerning  his  son,  had  moved  into  tho  district,  and  was 
employing  influence  to  secure  tho  appointment.  Among 
those  whoso  good  offices  he  was  desirous  to  secure,  was 
an  eccentric  old  lawyer,  a  man  of  wealth  and  of  much 
local  influence.  Tiiis  lawyer  had  a  high  opinion  of  his 
Philadelphia  friend,  and  had  given  him  a  horse,  still  fine- 
looking,  but  which  was  too  old  for  the  severe  work  the 
lawyer  re(iuired.  The  I'hiladelphian  was  profuse  in  his 
thanks,  and  promised  to  take  excellent  care  of  the  animal  ; 
and  not  to  work  him  too  hard.  Being  in  Philadelphia  on 
business  one  day,  the  donor,  to  his  surprise,  saw  the 
horse  harnessed  to  a  dray,  the  driver  lashing  him  to  make 
him  pull  a  load  l)eyond  his  strength.  The  lawyer  bought 
him  back  and  rode  him  homo.  Passing  Mr.  Hancock's 
house,  he  called  that  gentleman  to  the  door  and  abru[itly 
asked  :  •'  Mr.  Hancock,  would  you  like  to  have  Wiidield 
api)ointed  to  a  cadetship  at  West  Poiiit?"  ''Really," 
said  Mr.  Hancock,  "  I  have  never  thought  of  fc!uc]i  a 
thing.  The  matter  comes  upon  mo  so  suddenly  tl-at  1 
can  not  answer  at  once :  I  must  have  time  to  think  of  it.'' 
"Think  it  over  then,"  responded  tho  lawyer,  "and  I  will 
call  in  the  morning  and  learn  your  decision."  A  family 
council  was  held,  and,  mainly  at  Mrs.  Hancock's  solicita- 


f 


)(1  States  Military 
Tliu  Hon.  .I(»soi)li 
lo.ss  for  the  Moiit- 
laining  a  cadet.  A 
(1   niTibitious  views 

0  district,  and  was 
ointment.  Among 
ous  to  secure,  was 
jaltli  and  of  much 
ligh  opinion  of  his 

1  a  horse,  still  fiue- 
a  severe  work  the 
was  profuse   in  liis 

care  of  the  animal  ; 

in  Philadelphia  on 

siirprise,  saw  the 
ashing  him  to  make 
The  hiwyer  bought 
ing  Mr.  Hancock's 
J  door  and  abru[)tly 
e  to  have  Winiield 
oii4t?"     '-Really," 

thought  of  auch  a 
so  suddenly  t^-at  1 
time  to  think  of  it.'' 
lawyer,  "  and  I  will 
cision."  A  family 
Hancock's  solicita- 


11 

I      tion,  the  (luestion  was  decided   in  the  afiirniative.     'I'he 
*       lawyer's  influence   was  potent  in   the  matter.     Mr.  For- 

(        nance  submitted  Win  field's  name  for  a|ipoinlnient ;  and, 
on  July  1,  1840,  he  entered  upon  his  student  life  at  the 
/        National  Military  Academy  at    West  i'oint.     Among  his 
classmates  was  Ulysses  S.  Grant. 


n 


( 


C  II  A  V  T  E  R    II. 

Hiintjock  »,'ra(lii!itt!d  in  1S44,  aiul  was  assi<i[iie(l  to  duty 
with  tho  Sixth  Rogiiuunt  ol"  Infantry,  witli  thu  rank  of 
Hocond  lieutenant.  He  served  in  the  SoutiiwoHt,  on  and 
near  tho  Red  River  till  the  breaking  out  of  the  Mexican  war, 
when  his  regiment  was  ordered  to  join  the  army  of  (ien- 
eral  Winfiold  Scott.  Hancock  was  en},'a,i,'cd  in  no  actual 
fij,'hting  till  near  the  close  of  tlie  struj^^'le,  when  he  partici- 
pated in  tho  battles  of  Contreras,  Chorubusco,  Molino  del 
Roy  and  Ciiapultei)oc.  Later  events  in  our  history  have 
dwarfed  tho  proportions  of  these  oM<;a;^'omonts;  but  at  tho 
time  they  were  looked  u[)on  as  very  l)h)ody  encounters ; 
and  tiio  newspapers  of  that  day  enipl()yod  their  very 
laryost  display  typo  to  tell  tho  public  that  no  loss  than 
eleven  hun<lrod  of  our  ;,'allaiit  men  liad  fallen  in  the  desper- 
ate strujftfle  at  Chorubusco.  Hut  it  must  bo  remembered, 
that  to  tho  iiidividiuil  soldier  t  nail  eni^ajjomeul  is  as 
serious  as  the  coidlict  which  topples  thrones  aiul  njakes 
the  whole  world  tremble.  Hancock,  received  lionorable 
mention  and  a  brevet  for  meritorious  services  in  those 
battles. 

On  the  conclusion  of  peace  he  was  among  the  last  to 
leave  Mexico,  when  he  was  stationed  near  Prairie  du 
Chien.  In  1849  he  married  Almira,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Russell,  a  merchant  of  St.  Louis.      It  is  suflBcient  to  say 


1 


f 


iH  asHij^iiod  to  iluty 
,  witli  till)  nink  of 
Soiitliwost,  oil  and 
if  the  Mexican  war, 
II  tlio  army  of  (ien- 
gat^cd  ill  no  actual 
le,  when  he  partici- 
•ubuaco,  Molino  del 
in  our  hiwtory  have 
[ements;  hut  at  the 
hloody  encounters ; 
ipliiycd  their  very 
;  that  no  less  than 
fallen  in  the  despor- 
iist  1)0  remeinhered, 
II  enj^aj^ement  is  as 
thrones  and  makes 
received  honorable 
8  services  in  those 

4  among  the  last  to 

id  near  Prairie  du 

ilaughter  of  Samuel 

is  sufficient  to  say 


11 

that  his  inarrifid  life  has  ht>(!n  nnuu  than  usually  Inippy. 
Mrs.  Ilanoock  has  accompanied  her  hiishand  to  most  of 
luH  posts  of  duty.  A  sou  and  a  daughter  has  hluwsed  the 
union. 

After  a  brief  term  of  service  in  Florida,  tlio  Sixth 
ll(!gim(!iit  was  ordered  first  to  Kansas  and  tlieii  to  (Cali- 
fornia. The  march  was  made  across  the  eontineut,  and 
this  is  probably  the  longest  coiitiniious  march  ever  made 
by  a  body  of  troops.  In  IHOI  the  war  of  secession  broke 
out.  At  his  urgent  re(iuest  Hancock  was  transferred  to 
the  East,  though  not  without  delay;  and  in  September 
of  the  year  named,  lie  landed  in  New  York.  Without  so 
much  as  pausing  to  visit  his  parents,  he  hastened  to  Wash- 
ington and  reported  for  duty.  The  blunder  was  at  first 
made  of  turning  him  into  a  (/ommissary  ;  but  General 
Mc(ylellan  recommended  liim  for  n  brigade,  and  aftin-  a 
delay  of  a  few  days  Hancock  received  the  commission  of  a 
brigadier-general  and  was  assigned  to  duty  in  tlic  division 
of  General  Smith.  His  command  comprised  the  Forty- 
ninth  Pennsylvania,  the  Forty-third  New  York,  the  Fifth 
Wisconsin,  and  the  Ninth  Maine.  His  commission  bore 
date  September  23,  1861. 

In  October  General  McClellan  was  appointed  to  the 
command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  which  he  pro- 
ceeded to  organize  and  drill  before  putting  it  into  the 
field  to  fight  battles.  A  discussion  of  his  policy  in  this 
respect  does  not  come  within  the  province  of  this  memoir  ; 
but  it  is  pertinent  to  say  that  Hancock  fully  approved  it. 


T"^ 


14 


1 


m 


The  Soiitlierners,  more  familiar  with  the  use  of  arms  than 
the  people  of  the  North,  had  the  further  cdvantage  that 
they  liad  been  prepared  for  war  from  the  beginning  of 
the  seceasion  movement.  The  army  of  Northern  Virginia, 
too,  was  flushed  with  the  victory  at  Bull  Run,  It  was 
believed  that  the  North,  vastly  preponderating,  as  it  did, 
in  wealth  and  in  appliances  for  the  production  of  warlike 
material,  could  better  afford  to  wait  than  could  the  South, 
whose  means  were  limited  and  whose  ports  were  already 
closed  to  the  commerce  of  the  world.  And  so  for  six 
months  Hancock  became  a  drill-master.  It  must  be  borne 
in  mind  that  at  this  time  not  only  were  the  privates  ab- 
solutely raw,  but  that  their  commanders  were  but  very 
little  better  instructed  in  the  art  of  war.  The  few  officers 
who  had  received  a  military  education,  not  oidy  were  com- 
pelled to  attend  to  the  executive  business  of  their  com- 
mands, but  were  forced  as  well  to  become  drill-sergeants, 
to  teach  the  other  officers  what  they  in  turn  were  to 
teach  the  privates.  To  Hancock's  tireless  energy  and 
efficiency  during  this  period  of  apparent  inactivity  much 
of  his  later  success  is  due. 

Early  in  April,  1862,  McClellan  moved  on  Richmond 
via  the  York  peninsula.  The  plan  was  opposed  by  Pres- 
ident Lincoln,  who  feared  that  so  soon  as  Washington  , 
was  uncovered  tlie  enemy  would  make  a  dash  upon  it. 
He  reasoned  that  the  Confederates  would  hold  the  loss  of 
Richmond  cheap,  if  by  the  sacrifice  they  could  gain  Wash- 
ington with  the  prospect  of  encouraging  Maryland  to  de- 


« 


€ 

a 
s 
c 
J 
I 

0 

1 

c 
r( 

h 

f( 
f( 
c 

s< 

1> 
t( 

C 

P 
a 

w 

t( 

ci 


15 


3  use  of  arms  than 
ler  advantage  that 
I  the  beginning  of 
Northern  Virginia, 
lull  Run,  It  was 
derating,  as  it  did, 
uction  of  warlike 
n  could  the  South, 
ports  were  already 
d.     And  so  for  six 

It  must  be  borne 
re  the  privates  ab- 
ers  were  but  very 
The  few  officers 
not  oidy  were  com- 
iness  of  their  com- 
tne  drill-sergeants, 

in  turn  were  to 
ireless  energy  and 
it  inactivity  much 

ved  on  Richmond 
i  opposed  by  Pres- 
on  as  Washington  , 
ike  a  dash  upon  it. 
aid  hold  the  loss  of 
y  could  gain  Wash- 
ig  Maryland  to  de- 


« 


"l  clare  for  them.  He  therefore  stipulated  that  a  force  suf- 
ficient to  protect  the  capital  should  be  retained  in  its 
front,  and  this  was  stationed  at  Fredericksburg  under 
General  Irwin  McDowell. 

Reaching  the  York   peninsula,  McClelhin  found  the 
enemy   entrenched   at   Yorktown.      He   ouglit   to   have 
attacked  at  once ;  there  can  l)e  no  doubt  of  that ;  but  he 
sat  down  and  besieged  for  a  month  a  place  which  he 
could  have  carried  by  a  coup  de  main  in  an  hour.     But 
McCleilan  lacked  dash  and  moral  courage.    He  invariably 
underestimated  his  own  strength  and  overestinnitjd  that 
of  liis  enemy.     Tlie  siege  was  harassing,  but  not  bloody. 
The  people  of  the  country  sympathized  with  the  Southern 
cause  and  gave  all  the  information  in  their  power  to  the 
rebel  leaders,  while  Union  officers  were  almost  entirely 
ignorant  of  the  movements  or  strength  of  the  opposing 
force.     These  people  possessed  the  greater  opportunities 
for  gaining   knowledge  of  our  force   and   positions   by 
coming  into  the^Union  lines  under  professions  of  loyalty, 
sometimes    bringing    produce   for    sale   at   extortionate 
prices,  and  sometimes  bringing  information  never  proved 
to  be  correct  and  frequently  known  to  be  flagrantly  false. 
One  of  these  gentlemen,  named  Vollin,  w.as  particularly 
pertinacious  in  declaring  his  devotion  to  the  Union  cause, 
and  particularly  active  in    bringing  in  totally   untrust- 
worthy intelligence.     While  on  a  scouting  expedition, 
toward   the    close    of   tlie    siege,   attended   by   a   small 
cavalry  escort,  Hancock  was  fired  upon  by  half-a-dozen 


-^— 


mfrr- 


!; 


i   I 


If. 

bushwhackers.  He  h.istily  sent  his  troopers  around  to 
intercept  their  retreat,  while  he  and  his  stuff  rode  directly 
upon  the  guerillas.  The  result  was  that  two  were  killed 
and  a  third  taken.  The  prisoner  proved  to  be  Vollin. 
"  Good  morning,  Mr.  Vollin ;  good  morning,  sir,"  said 
the  General.  "  We  have  been  looking  for  you  for  some 
time,  Mr.  Vollin."  The  fellow  was  oilent.  "  I  suppose," 
continued  Hancock,  "  you  are  aware  of  the  fate  usually 
awarded  to  spies,  Mr.  Vollin."  "  I— suppose— 1— am," 
stamme-ed  the  latter.  "  Then  you  will  please  prepare 
for  it  at  your  earliest  convenience,  Mr.  Vollin.  Good 
morning,  sir." 

A  few  days  later,  while  Hancock  was  making  a  recon- 
noissance  toward  the  enemy's  position,  at  the  head  of  a 
regiment  of  his  brigade,  he  came  suddenly  upon  a  rebel 
regiment,  scarce  a  hundred  yards  from  him.  Both  parties 
instantly  sank  to  the  ground  and  sought  the  cover  of 
stumps  and  trees.  The  rebel  officer  in  this  emergency 
concluded  to  practice  a  little  ruse.  Carefully  instructing 
his  men  to  lie  still  and  take  rood  aim,  he  fiercely  shouted 
"  Charge ! "  thinking  that  at  that  terrible  word  the 
"  Yankees  "  would  start  frohi  theii;  cover  to  flee.  But 
the  Yankees  lay  still  as  the  grave.  "  Ch-irge  I  "  repeated 
the  officer.  His  men  ros.i ;  but  had  scarce  reached  theii' 
feet  when  a  withering  volley  from  Hancock's  regiment 
sent  them  to  the  rear  at  dcuble-quick,  and  they  were  seen 
no  more. 

By  the  first  of  May,  McClellan's  batteries  were  nearly 


troopers  around  to 

lis  stuff  rode  directly 

that  two  were  killed 

iroved  to  be  Vollin. 

morning,  sir,"  said 

ig  for  yon  for  some 

ilent.     "  I  suppose," 

!  of  the  fate  usually 

— suppose — I — am," 

will  please  prepare 

Mr.  Vollin.     Good 

was  making  a  recon- 
ion,  at  the  head  of  a 
iddenly  upon  a  rebel 
n  him.  Both  parties 
sought  the  cover  of 
r  in  tills  emergency 
Carefully  instructing 
1,  he  fiercely  shouted 
terrible   word    the 

cover  to  flee.  But 
"  Chiirge  !  "  repeated 
scarce  reached  theia* 

Hancock's  regiment 
c,  and  they  were  seen 

batteries  were  nearly 


completed,  and  the  (3th  of  that  month  was  the  date  fixed 
for  opening  fire.     But  on  the  morning  of  the  4th  it  was 
discovered  that  during  the  night  the  enemy  had  evacuated 
his  works.      The  pursuit  was  instant  and  vigorous.      At 
Williamsl)iirg,    Longstreet,    who    commanded    the    rebel 
rear,  decided  to  fight  to  gain  time  for  the  escape  of  his 
trains.     Hooker  assailed  him  furiously,  but  was  roughly 
handled.     The  impetuous  Kearny  dashed  upon  him;  but, 
to  say  the  least,  gained  no  ground.     The  enemy's  extreme 
left  was  defended  l>y  earthworks  of  considerable  strength 
and  protected  by  an  intricate  abattis.     These  works  had 
been  abandoned,  and  Hancock,  seeing  that  they  flanked 
tlie  enemy's  line,  promptly  occupied  two  of  them.     At 
this  juncture  the  rebels  came  upon  iiim  in  strong  force  to 
drive  him  out.     He  held  them  at  l)ay  for  some  time,  but, 
fnidinglimselfvery  nn'.cIiontnumi)ered,  lie  called  for  assist- 
ance.    General  Couch  sent  him  tlie  Tenth  Massaclinsetts. 
Still  the  enemy  pressed  ujmn  him.     Hancock  pretended 
to  retreat  till  tlie  enemy  was  drawn  into  the  open,  when 
lie  suddenly  faced  about,  poured  volley  after  volley  into 
their  astonished  ranks,  which  threw  them  into  confusion. 
"  Now,  gentlemen,    with    the  bayonet,"^  cried  Hancock. 
In  anotiier  moment  the  command  leaped  forward,  the 
rebel  line  broke,  and  the  enemy's  left  flank  was  turned. 
The  rebel  loss  here  was  between   five  hundred  and  six 
hundred;    Hancock's  was  but  one  hundred   and  thirty. 
Aware  of  the  important  advantage  gained,  and  expecting 
a  determined  effort    to   re-take    the   works,    McClellan 


ir 


18 

sent  in  stron;^  reinforcements  ;  biit  in  tlie  morning 
the  enemy  iiad  retreated.-  Longsl reefs  object,  how- 
ever, hiul  been  secured  ;  lime  liad  l)ecn  gained  to 
enable  ins  trains  to  malcc  good  liieir  (escape  ;  and  he  had 
inliioted  at  least  as  much  hiss  as  he  liad  sustained. 

Hancock  was  the  hero  of  the  day.  His  l)rilliat\t 
charge,  l)ringing  about  sucli  important  results,  was  highly 
spoken  of  by  all.  McClellan,  in  his  telegraphic  report 
that  evening  said  : 

"Oincriil  iliiiifork  liMs  liikcn  two  redoubts  Mini  repulsed  EiirlyN 
relfcl  brii^ade  l)y  a  real  eliarse  with  tlic  bnyoncl,  l!\kin,i,M)ne  Colonel  iind 
one  liuudrcd  and  fil'ty  other  i)ris()ners,  and  killing  at  least  two  Colonels 
and  many  privates.     Ilisoonduct  was  brilliant  in  the  extreme." 

McClellan  resumed  the  march  on  Richmond,  but  slow- 
ly. A  sudden  push  would  no  doubt  have  given  him  the 
rebel  capital,  wiiere  the  defensive  force,  was  but  50,000 
men ;  but  his  constitutional  timidity  stood  in  his  way. 
In  justice  to  him  it  must  be  said  that  the  roads  were 
almost  impassable  for  artillery  and  wagon  trains.  On  tlie 
20th  of  May  he  readied  the  Chickahominy.  Immediate- 
ly he  threw  two  divisions  across  that  stream  and  stretched 
liis  army  o..t  over  twenty  miles  of  country.  The  river 
was  not  fordable,  and  there  was  but  a  single  bridge  across 
it.  Tiie  corps  of  Keyes  and  Heintzelman  were  moved  up 
to  Fair  Oaks  or  Seven  Pines,  only  four  miles  from  Rich- 
mond, where,  on  the  30th  of  June,  under  cover  of  a  tre- 
mendous thunder-storm,  the  cemy  fell  upon  them  with 
nearly  his  whole  force.  Tlie  figlit  lasted  two  days.  At 
the  close  of  the  first  day,  the  Union  troops,  hirgely  out- 


m 


ill  tlie  moniiiig 
eet's  object,  how- 
I  been  gained  to 
u;ape  ;  anil  he  luid 
il  sustained, 
ay.  His  brilliant 
results,  was  highly 
telegraphic  report 

s  iiiul  repulsed  Early's 
r,  l!ikin,i,M)ni)  Colonel  iiiul 
ng  at.  least  two  Colonels 
ill  the  extreme." 

[lichmond,but  slow- 
liave  given  him  the 
i-ce.  was  but  50,000 
'  stood  in  his  way. 
hat  the  roads  were 
igon  trains.  On  tlie 
^miny.  Immediate- 
stream  and  stretched 
30untry.  The  river 
I  single  bridge  across 
man  were  moved  up 
ir  miles  from  Ilich- 
nder  cover  of  a  tre- 
'ell  upon  them  witii 
sted  two  days.  At 
troops,  largely  out- 


numbered, had  been  forced  back  full  two  miles.  Next 
day  Sumner  and  Hooker  reached  the  field,  and  the  rebels 
wore  disastrously  repulsed.  The  last  fighting  was  done 
liy  the  division  of  the  gallant  Ricliardson,  of  Illinois, 
which  was  that  afterward  commanded  l)y  Hancock — the 
First  Division  of  the  Second  Corps.  Hurling  back  the 
last  desperate  .assault  of  the  enemy,  and  fairly  crushing 
his  columns,  Richardson  was  pushing  on  into  Richmond, 
when  orders  recalled  him.  Hancock  was  not  actively 
engaged  in  this  battle 

McClellan  still  hiy  with  his  army  on  both  sides  of  the 
Cliickahominy.  About  the  20tl»  of  June  he  began  to 
move  to  the  right  bank.  By  the  'J4tli  liis  army  was 
across,  except  Porter's  command  of  about  80,000 ;  and 
he  announced  his  purpose  to  move  at  once  on  Richmond. 
Stonewall  Jackson,  meantime,  had  joined  Lee  ;  and  tlie 
latter,  simultaneously  with  McClellan's  movements,  had 
crossed  from  the  right  to  the  left  bank  of  the  Cliickahom- 
iny, some  miles  higher  up,  with  the  intention  of  destroy- 
ing the  Union  forces  before  aid  could  reach  them.  Ft 
was  thesciiemo  of  FiiirOaks  over  again.  Then  the  weak 
left  was  assailed;  now  the  left  had  been  strengthened  and 
the  right  weakened;  and  there  Lee  proposed  to  strike  a 
terriiile  blow.  On  the  26th  A.  P.  Hiil  attacked  two 
Union  iirigades  of  McCall's  division,  strongly  posted  in 
advance  of  Porter's  corps,  but  met  a  bloody  repulse.  The 
Union  position  here  was  untenable,  and  the  forces  were 
withdrawn    during  the    night.      Next   day,  with    about 


m 


20 

65,000  troops,  inclurlins  the  corps  of  Longstreet,  A.  V. 
Hill,  I).  H,  Hill,  and  Jackson,  Lee  fell  upon  Porter.  The 
battle  is  known  as  that  of  Gaine's  Mill  or  Cold  Harbor. 
Porter  was  outnumbered  two  to  one ;  but  he  was  strongly 
posted  and  his  men  fought  well.  Ho  was  pressed  at 
every  point,  and  be  had  not  a  man  in  reserve.  From  two 
o'clock  till  four  beheld  his  ground  with  magnificent  cour- 
age, hurling  back  charge  after  charge,  but  growing  less 
able  at  every  onset.  At  four  o'clock  Slocuin  came  to  his 
relief.  He  sent  the  reinforcements  regiment  by  regiment 
to  the  weakest  points,  and  so  held  on  to  his  position  with 
a  death  grip  for  two  hours  more.  Except  a  single  l)ri- 
gade  the  whole  rebel  force  was  in  action,  and  fighting 
desperately.  It  was  half-past  six,  and  Porter's  only  hope 
was  to  hold  on  tUl  dark.  Suddenly  a  great  shudder 
passed  along  his  line,  and,  as  if  moved  by  a  common  im- 
pulse, his  whole  corps  rolled  back  from  the  deadly  shock. 
All  seemed  lost.  At  that  critical  moment  French  and 
Meagher  appeared  upon  the  scene  with  the  Second  and 
Third  brigades  of  Richardson's  division.  Inspired  with 
new  courage.  Porter's  men  faced  about  at  once,  dashed 
upon  their  enemy  and  fairly  drove  him  from  the  field. 

McClellan  believed  that  there  was  a  very  strong  force 
between  him  and  Richmond,  whereas  there  was  only 
Magruder's  division,  about  18,000  strong.  This  division 
kept  up  a  great  show  of  assailing  McClellan  at  different 
points,  which  the  nature  of  the  country  enabled  it  to  do 
with  comparative  impunity,  and  entire  success  in  keeping 


f  Longstreet,  A.  V. 

upon  Porter.  Tlio 
[ill  or  Cold  Harbor. 

but  he  was  strongly 
Ho  was  pressed  at 
reserve.  From  two 
th  magnificent  cour- 
se, but  growing  less 

Slocum  came  to  his 
igiment  by  regiment 

to  his  position  with 
Except  a  single  l)ri- 
action,  and  fighting 
1  Porter's  (»nly  hope 
y   a   great   shudder 
ed  i)y  a  common  im- 
m  the  deadly  shock, 
loment  French  and 
dth  the  Second  and 
sion.     Inspired  with 
L)out  at  once,  dashed 
m  from  the  field. 
,s  a  very  strong  force 
•eas  there  was  only 
rong.     This  division 
cClellan  at  different 
ntry  enabled  it  to  do 
fe  success  in  keeping 


i 
i 


00,000  men  on  that  side  of  the  Cliickahominy,  while  the 
main  rebel  army  was  pounding  the  life  out  of  Porter. 
And  .' 0  the  Union  commander  did  not  dare  weaken  liis 
left,  lest  while  Lee  cut  him  off  from  his  l)ase  of  sujjplies 
at  Yorktown,  Magruder  should  cut  his  line  of  retreat  to 
the  .James.  Directly  across  the  Cliickahominy  from  Por- 
ter's bloody  field  lay  Smith's  division,  with  Hancock's 
l)rigade  on  its  left.  During  the  night  of  the  '27th  Porter's 
men  were  withdrawn  and  marclied  pass  Smith's  rear 
toward  the  left  of  McClellan's  lir.e,  destroying  tlie  bridge 
across  the  Cliickahominy.  In  the  morning  Smith  began 
to  fall  back.  iVIcClellan  had  resolved  to  change  his  base 
to  the  James  River,  and  the  corps  of  Sumner  and  Heintzel- 
man  were  ordered  to  guard  the  rear.  As  Smith  was  fall- 
incrback,  Toombs's  rebel  b  'igade  made  a  dasii  at  Hancock, 
The  assailants  were  filing  '.)aek  with  fiigiitfnl  loss.  Among 
the  prisoners  were  Col.  L.  Q.  C.  Lamar  and  his  liieuten- 
ant-Colonel. 

McCIellan  left  Sumner  and  Heiiitzelman  at  Savage 
Station  to  guard  his  rear,  while  his  omer  corps  pushed  on 
toward  the  .lames.  Hancock's  brigade  was  with  the  rear 
guard,  but,  through  some  misconception  of  his  orders, 
Heintzelman  lell  back.  Wiien  the  enem'y  attacked,  as  he 
did  repeatedly  and  savagely,  the  brunt  of  the  fight  fell  upon 
Hancock,  Burns,  and  Hrooke,  magnificently  sustained  by 
Pettit's,  Hazzard's,  Osborne's  and  Bramhall's  liatteries. 
Our  men  had  Ijeen  continuously  on  duty  since  the  26th  ; 
but  every  desperate  assault  was  rolled  back  with  calm  de- 


IMiWI 


22 


■vv, 


tenniiiiitloii,  iiiul  wIumi  iii'^lil  tVll  no  rohol  soldier  Imd  sot 
his  foot  within  tiie  Union  linos.  Whon  diirknoss  put  an 
end  to  the  carnago  Suninor  oidoiod  a  retreat,  leaviii<? 
2,000  woniidod  to  fall  into  the  enemy's  hands.  This  battle 
is  known  as  that  of  Savage  Station,  and  was  fought  on  the 
20th  of  June. 

Lee  had  crossed  the  Chickahoniiny  on  the  2nih  with 
his  whole  force  ;  made  a  forced  march  parallel  to  the  line 
of  retreat  and,  on  the  30th,  foil  upon  McCall,  Kearny  and 
Hooker,  at  Frazer's  Farm.  Jeff  Davis  had  come  down  to 
see  the  fray,  and  Lee,  having  onlered  up  every  man  un- 
der his  command,  even  calling  in  Wise's  troops  from 
Fort  Darling,  had  lu)  doubt  tliat  he  would  pierce  the 
Union  center,  and  capture  the  whole  rear  division.  At 
(irst  he  gained  some  success,  driving  in  McCall  ;  but 
Fighting  Joe  Hooker  came  uo,  the  fiery  Kearny  came  up, 
iind  the  whole  rebel  line  was  rolled  i)ack  in  ragged  rout, 
and  was  fain  to  seek  a  retreat  in  the  thick  woods,  beneath 
the  friendly  shelter  of  the  night.  Hancock  was  still  in 
the  rear  guard,  and  on  this  another  desperate  assault  was 
made  at  Glondalo,  l)y  Stonewall  Jackson.  But  yet  again 
the  enemy's  assaults  were  firmly  ai'id  steadily  ''(.pulsed. 
When  darkness  set  in  the  wearied  troops,  who  had  now 
l)een  fighting  all  day  and  marching  all  night  for  five  con- 
secutive days,  once  more  took  the  route  for  the  new  base 
on  James  river.  Next  day  the  Union  army  took  position 
at  Malvern  flill  ;  and  here  Lee,  on  the  first  of  July, 
dashed  once  more  upon  its  lines,  only  to  be  hurled  back 


^ 


28 


rebel  soldier  had  set 
lien  (liirkiieHS  put  an 
ed  a  retreat,  leaviiifj; 
y's  hands.  Thishatllo 
[ind  was  fought  on  the 

liny  on  the  2nih  with 
ch  parallel  to  the  line 

McCall,  Kearny  and 
vis  had  come  down  to 
ed  up  every  man  un- 

Wise's  troops  from 
le  would  pierce  tlie 
le  rear  division.  At 
ing  in  McCall  ;  but 
ery  Kearny  came  up, 
back  in  ragged  rout, 
thick  woods,  l)eneath 
lancock  was  still  in 
lesperato  assault  was 
kson.  But  yet  again 
id  steadily  '-(.pulsed, 
roops,  who  had  now 
dl  night  for  five  con- 
lute  for  the  new  base 
)n  army  took  position 
in  the  first  of  July, 
y  to  be  hurled  back 


i 

1 


again  with  frightful  slaughter.  The  poriion  r)f  the  line  !i1 
which  Hancock  was  stationed  wan  not  atta(;kcd.  After 
once  more  beating  off  his  persistent  foe.  M( Ch-llan  re- 
treated still  again  to  Harrison's  Landing,  and.  with  a  lit- 
tle more  deliberatic"  .  Lee  retreati^d  to  Kiclimoiid,  ciich 
devoutly  returning  thanks  to  Ahuiglny  CJod  for  iiaving 
vouclisafed  him  a  noble  victory. 


^^.JM 


il 


.      C  H  A  V  r  hUi     III. 

MnCloIlan  was  nidcnid  Ijiick  to  WuHhiir^toii,  and  tlio 
^roaUir  part  of  liis  coiinriimd  was  transfcnt'd  to  Popo. 
Tlio  second  battle  of  Hull  Run  ToUowcmI,  in  uliicli  Han- 
cock did  not  take  part.  Po[te  was  l)eateii,aiid  MitCIlellan 
onco  inoro  took  command  of  the  army.  Lov.  crossed  the 
Potomac  into  Maryhind,  leavin<,'  a  force  to  invest  Harper's 
Ferry,  which  was  surrendered  thront,'li  cowardice  or 
treaeliery.  Fraidclin,  in  whose  eori)S  Hancock's  hrij^ade 
was  phiced,  was  sent  to  relieve  that  important  post;  hut 
was  too  late.  Franklin  found  liis  road  aiiross  the  Culoctin 
Mountains  liarred  at  C/iampton's  (laii  l»y  Howc^ll  (''ohh, 
who  was  ordered  to  hold  his  ground  at  all  hazards.  Frank- 
lin brushed  him  away,  however,  with  the  loss  of  a  few 
hundred  men,  and,  hruvj;  too  late  to  relieve  Hari)er'rt 
Ferry,  hastentsd  on  t(»  the  nei!4lil)orhood  of  Sliarpsville, 
where,  McClellau  havin;jf  forced  the  passai,'e  of  South 
Mountain  at  Fisher's  Gap,  the  two"  armies  stood  glaring 
at  each  other  across  Antietam  Creek. 

The  passage  of  the  Antietam  could  not  he  forced  in 
the  face  of  the  enemy;  and  on  the  16th,  Hooker  was 
sent  up  the  river  about  two  miles,  where  he  crossed  un- 
opposed, and,  turning  southward,  struck  the  enemy's  left, 
gaining  some  advantage,  and  desisting  only  as  darkness 


d 

V 

n 
II 
ii 

ai 

CI 

hi 
ri 


25 


»-  *. . 


I  I. 

Wiisliiiii,'(()li,  iilid  the 
IriinsfontMl  lo  I'ope. 
Dwed,  in  wliicli  Ilmi- 
)(!iitoii,iiii(l  M(;(^/lellun 
ly.  FiCM!  crossed  the 
!•(!(!  to  inv(!st  lliirixir's 
rniiti;li  onward ico  or 
IS  Iliiiicook's  liriffiido 
iinportiiiit.  post;  l»ut 
id  iKiross  tlifi  Cidotitiii 
iiili  l»y  IIo\V(^ll  Col)l), 
it  ill!  liiiziirds.  FniiiU- 
tli    tlio  loss  of  ii  low 

to  rclievf!  Ifiiri»(!r"s 
irliood  of  Sliiirpsvillc!, 
Hj  passiitjc  of  Soutli 
armies  stood  glarinif 
c. 

iild  not  be  forced  in 
le  Ifitii,  Hooker  was 
where  he  crossed  nn- 
•iick  the  enisniy's  left, 
illy;  only  as  darkness 


fell.     h\  the  inorninjr  F looker  a.,'ain  atta.iked   with  f^'rcat 
fury,  his  coi  AS  still  heiii-  the  only  one  west  of  the  stmmi. 
Hurnsid..  w::„  ordero.!  to  force  a  passaj,'e  on  MeClellairs 
left,  hut  he  considered  himself  iinahle  to  do  so,  and  made 
MO  very  serious  attempt.     Lee  was  therefore  at  liherty  to 
oppose  nearly  his  whole  force  to  Flooker,  and  th.    latter 
was  (luiokly  worsted,  he  himself  heinj,'   badly  wounded. 
Mansfield  was  sent  to  his  aid,  but  his  cort>s  was  pitted' 
alone  ajruinst  the   whole  rebel   left;    and,   when   it  was 
forced    baek    and    Mansfield    was    killed,    Sumner    came 
ui.on  the  scene.     FFe  struck  the  enemy  a  little  to  the  left 
of   the  |»revious  fighting;    but  he,  too,   was  left  unsup- 
ported, and,  though  his  troops  at  first  gained  ground,  he 
was  at  length  forced  to  retire,  though  his  First  F)ivision, 
umler    Flichardsnn,    held    its   position   in    the  corn-field.' 
Just  as  Sumner's  attack  was  seen  to  have  fiiiled,  Frank- 
lii.  arrived  on  the  ground.     Smith's  division,  inclu.ling 
IFancoek's  brigade,  was  ordered  to  carry  the  ground  so 
long   aiul    so    hotly    contested.      The  men  advanced  at 
•louble-quick,  carried  the  position  at  a  dash,  eleared  the 
v^oods    and    the    corn-field    of   their    defenders    in    ten 
minutes,  and  held  their  ground    there    without    serious 
molestation.      Their   loss   was   not  great:      l^rter  and 
IJurnside  had  as  yet  done  nothing.     Sumner,  Mansfield 
and    Hooker    had    been    beaten    in    detail,   though    the 
enemy    was   content    witii   holding    his   position,  when, 
lute  in   the   day,    Franklin    came    to    the    relief  of  the 
right,  and    Burnside  at  length   made    tlie    long-delayed 


20 

,u.,n.pt  to  force  tho  wr  inM^o.  ''-"f '«";;;; 'j;;; 

croHsu.«,  but  his  fm-ther  a.lvu,...,o  was  c\M  and    h 
e„e,ny  was  once  .nor«  c„ncontralu.«  to  .rush  hun,  when 
Suml-a,ain.stnu.kl.iH  center.     The  FirKt  Ihv.s.on  o 
his  ccrps,  led   l.y  Hichar.lson,    an.i.l  a  perfect  storm   of 
canister  and  n.nsketry  advanced  once  more  from  the  corn- 
fieUl,  and  a^ain  forced  back  the  enemy ;  hut  U.chardson 
fell  in  the  struggle.     In  the  middle  of  the  ti,ht,  Hancock 
was  sent  to  the  command  ..f  the  division,  and  fron»  tins  tune 
till  the  Summer  of  186«,  the  history  of  Hancock  |s  tluvt  of 
the  First  Division  of  the  Second  Army  Corps.     Ihc  fight- 
i„g  at  Antiotam  was  nearly  over  when  Hancck  assun.ed 
V,s  new  command.     Our  army,  fighting  a  single  corps  and 
sometimes  a  single   division   at  a   time,  had   been   out- 
nunrbered  at  every  point  of  contact  and  repulsed  m  many 
places;  yet  the  enemy  had  suffered  dbout  as  heavdy  as 
the  Union  army  ;  and  McClellan  had  all  his  troops  across 
the    Antietam,  except   the  reserve   corps   of  Fitz  John 
Porter.     The  next  day,  the  18th,  was  passed  in  inactivity. 
During  the  ensuing  night  Lee  retreated. 

Some  harassing  but  not  important  operations  fol- 
lowed, including  a  reconnoisance  to  Martinsburg,  led  by 
Hancock.  On  the  7th  of  November,  McClellan  was 
retired  from  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Burnside,  whose  diffidence  m  him- 
self  and  doubts  of  his  ability  to  command  so  great  an 
army,  were  justified  by  events.    On  the  29th  of  Novem- 


IT 


llo  iniulo  f,'on(l  hirt 
iH  cheoktul,  and  tho 

to  cnirtli  him,  wlien 
he  First  Division  of 

a  ])C!ifect  stonn   c)f 
)  move  from  tho  corn- 
iiy  ;  but  Uichiivdson 
»f  tho  fi«,'ht,  lliincuuik 
)n,  ivi\il  from  this  time 
[)f  Hancock  is  that  of 
ly  Corps.     The  fight- 
>ii  Hancock  assnmed 
iiig  a  single  corps  and 
time,  had   been   out- 
and  repulsed  in  many 
cl  about  as  heavily  as 
(1  all  his  troops  across 
I   corps   of  Fitz  John 
IS  passed  in  inactivity, 
iated. 

srtant  operations  fol- 
,o  Martinsburg,  led  by 
mber,  McClellan  was 
\.nny  of  the  Potomac, 
hose  diffidence  in  him- 

command  so  great  an 
3n  the  29th  of  Novem- 


ber, Hancock  was  promoted  to  bo  major-general  of  vol- 
nntoors. 

In  December  tlu!  CTnion  army  was  concentrated  at 
Fredt^rit^ksburg,  and  liurnside  d(ftermined  to  crods  the 
Iliippaliannock  at  tiiat  place  and  move  toward  Richmond. 
A  force  was  detaihul  from  Hancock's  division  to  guard 
the  pontoniers  in  laying  bridges,  but  the  fire  of  tho  rebel 
siiarpshooters  was  so  destructive  tliat  tho  attempt  was 
abandoned.  Volunteers  were  then  called  for,  who  leai)ed 
into  the  pontons,  pushed  across  under  a  sharp  fire,  and 
drove  the  enemy  from  his  rifie-pits  on  the  south  side  of 
the  river.  As  the  boats  were  pushing  off,  Robert  Ilen- 
dershot,  a  drummer-boy  attached  to  the  Seventh  Michi- 
gan regiment,  leaped  into  the  water,  seized  the  boat  and 
made  good  the  crossing.  His  bravery  earned  him  the 
sobriquet  of  the  Drummer  Boy  of  tiie  Rappahannock. 

During  the  12th  the  army  crossed  by  several  bridges, 
vvhicli  were  now  constructed  without  opposition.  Burn- 
side's  plan  was  to  engage  the  enemy  warmly  in  front, 
which  Sumner  was  ordered  to  do,  while  Franklin,  com- 
manding tiie  left,  which  had  been  greatly  strengthened, 
was  to  gain  Lee's  right,  turn  his  flank,  '"id  render  his 
position  untenable.  Franklin  appears  .not  to  have  un- 
derstood his  orders  as  Burnside  intended  them  to  be  un- 
derstood, and,  instead  of  delivering  a  strong  and  deter- 
mined assault  he  weakly  engaged  two  of  his  nine  divis- 
ions, and  when  these  were,  as  a  matter  of  course,  driven 
back  by  superior  numbers,  he  desisted  from  further  effort. 


28 


i'!.;. 


I ' 
m^ 


m 


IIP- 


On  the  right  a  different  state  of  things  existed.     The 
enemy   here   were   posted   on   a   hill  known  as  Marge's 
Heights.     Its  sumuit  was  covered  with   batteries  ;  its 
sides  were  seamed  with  rifle-pits,  and  at  its  foot  ran  a 
sunken  road  sustained  by  stone  walls.     The  front  was  so 
narrow  that  the  attacking  force  was  formed  in  column  by 
brigades.     Between  the  rebel  position  and  the  sheltering 
streets  of  the  town  was  an  open  common  a  quarter  of   a 
mile  in  width,  intersected  by  a  mill-race,  and  across  this 
Sumner's   men  rushed   to  an   impossible    task.      French 
took  the  lead  ;  but  his  column  melted  away  under  a  mur- 
derous fire.     Th^n   came   Hancock.     As  his  men  broke 
from  their  cover,  a  storm  of  deadly  hail  broke  upon  their 
ranks.     The  whole  atmosphere   was  alive  with  invisible 
but  busy  messengers  of  dep.th.     The  summit  of  the  hill 
was  clothed  with  the  sulphurous  breath- of  eighty  guns, 
and  three  lines  of  volleying  musketry  showed  where  the 
long  ranks  of  rebel  soldiery,  themselves  protected,  were 
pom-ing  murderous  volleys  into  the  advancing  lines.     The 
ground  was  heavy  with  red  Virginia  mud,  and  through 
this  the  devoted  division  pushed  its  way,  like  some  strong 
bird  breasting  the   tempest  and  defying  the  very  light- 
nings of  heaven.     At  every  step  dozens  of  men  fell  dead. 
Ateverv  moment  great  gaps  were  torn  in  the  ragged  line 
by  the  'relentless  storm  of  lead  and  iron.     Flags  fell  as 
their  bearers  fell;  were  seized  by  new  hands,  rose  and 
struggled  on.     The  foot  of  the  hill  was   reached;   but, 
great  God !  how  few  lived  to  reach  it !     A  gallant  division 


XJ 


29 


ings  exifted.     The 
known  as  Marge's 
with   batteries  ;  its 
id  at  its  foot  ran  a 
The  front  vvas  so 
)rmed  in  column  by 
and  the  sheltering 
tion  a  quarter  of   a 
ice,  and  across  this 
ible    task.      French 
[  away  under  a  mur- 
As  his  men  broke 
ail  broke  upon  their 
alive  with  invisible 
summit  of  the  hill 
athof  eighty  guns, 
r  showed  where  the 
Ives  protected,  were 
Ivanciug  lines.     The 
ia  mud,  and  through 
way,  like  some  strong 
fying  the  very  light- 
ens of  men  fell  dead. 
>rn  in  the  ragged  line 
d  iron.     Flags  fell  as 
new  hands,  rose  and 
11  was   reached;   but, 
t!     A  gallant  division 


started  on  the  faithful  errand  ;  a  mere  handful  dashed 
itself  in  heroic  devotion  and  impotent  valor  against  the 
solid  stone  wall,  beyond  which  no  man,  through  all  that 
fatal  day,  was  able  to  go.  Zook  launched  his  comma.'id 
forward  like  a  catapult.  Meagher's  green-and-gold  trap- 
pings gleamed  at  the  head  of  the  Irisli  brigade  like  a  bat- 
tle flag.  Hancock  was  everywhere,  directiug,  encourag- 
ing, commanding.  But  all  was  of  no  avail ;  for  owo  mor- 
tal hours  the  uiie(iual  strife  lasted,  and  the  gallant  band 
rolled  back,  almost  annihilated.  Some  regiments  left 
eighty  per  cent,  of  their  men  on  the  field.  Other  troops 
were  in  turn  devoted  to  slaughter  in  spite  of  Sumner's 
piteous  prayers  to  have  them  spared  from  so  impossible  a 
task ;  but  Burnside  was  firm ;  and  when  night  feU,  ten 
thousand  dead  and  wounded  man  lay  upon  a  little  patch  of 
ground  not  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  extent  The  frightful 
carnage  may  be  gathered  from  the  fact  that  few  more 
than  30,000  men  were  under  fire  in  the  whole  battle,  and 
the  losses  were  nearly  15,000.  Franklin's  men  did  not 
suffer  at  all  in  proportion  to  the  others,  so  that  the  mor- 
tality in  the  divisions  of  Hancock  and  French  was  simply 
appalling.  After  reporting  the  losses  given  above,  the 
Medical  Inspector  General  added :  "  The  return  of  killed 
may  be  too  small."  Many  of  the  soldiers  engaged  be- 
lieved that  the  casualties  had  been  purposely  reduced  to 
hide  from  the  array  and  thw  country  the  extent  of  the 
sacrifice. 

After  Fredericksburg  the  troops  returned  to  their  can- 


li 


m 


30 

tonments  north  of  the  Rappahaiii.ock,  and  Hancock  de- 
voted himself  to  the  care  of  his  di^'ision.  He  made  fre- 
quent inspections,  ordered  thorough  drills,  adopted 
measures  to  secure  the  full  supplies  of  rations  and  cloth- 
ing to  which  his  men  were  entitled,  and  in  every  way 
labored  to  restore  their  7norah.  The  soldiers  soon  recov- 
ered from  the  depression  caused  by  defeat ;  and  when  the 
movement  toward  Chancellorville  began,  there  was  not  a 
finer  body  of  men  in  the  army,  nor  one  more  ready  to 
meet  the  enemy  than  the  First  Division  of  the  Second 

Corps. 

A  circumstance  showing  the  conditions  under  which 
our  men  were  sometimes  called  upon  to  fight,  may  be  here 
related.     A  regiment  which  had  just  joined  Hancock's 
division,  was  armed  with  Belgian  rifles.     These  were  con- 
tract weapons,  made  of  miserable  material,  not  finished  at 
all ;    the  bayonets  were   of  soft  iron,  and  many  of    the 
muskets  had  springs  so  weak  that  they  would  not  explode 
a  percussion  cap.     General  Zook  inspected  the  regiment. 
After  reviewing  the  men  his  attention  was  called  to  their 
arms.     He  took  a  musket  from  a  soldier,  thrust  the  bay- 
onet into  the  ground  and  bent  it  ta  an  angle  of  nuiety 
degrees.     Then  he  put  a  cap  upon  the  nipple  and  pulled 
the  trigger  half  a  dozen  times,  but  the  cap  failed  to  ex- 
plode.     "There   is  one   thing  satisfactory  about   these 
arms,"  said  the  General.     "What  is  that?"  asked  the 
Colonel  of  the  regiment.     "I  am   thoroughly  satisfied 
they're  not  worth  a  damn !  "  returned  Zook.     Report  was 


m 


81 


,  and  Hancock  de- 
)n.  ile  made  fre- 
h  drills,  adopted 
rations  and  cloth- 
and  in  every  wa}' 
soldiers  soon  recov- 
"eat ;  and  when  the 
an,  there  was  not  a 
one  more  ready  to 
ision  of  the  Second 


made  to  Hancock,  but  he  had  no  power  in'  the  matter. 
"Tell  the  men,"  lie  said,  "to  look  around  them  as  soon 
C/  as  they  get  into  a  fight.  Tliey'U  find  plenty  of  guns  on 
the  field."  Two  days  latQi-  the  regiment  was  put  into 
the  vortex  of  fire  under  Marge's  Heights  ;  but  death  was 
too  busy  among  its  members  just  then  to  leave  them  any 
time  to  look  around  for  new  guns.  They  left  half  their 
number  on  the  field,  and  probably  did  not  kill  a  man  on 
the  other  side. 


itions  under  which 
;o  fight,  may  be  here 
t  joined  Hancock's 
}.     These  were  con- 
erial,  not  finished  at 
I,  and  many  of    the 
y  would  not  explode 
3ected  the  regiment. 
1  was  called  to  their 
lier,  thrust  the  bay- 
an  angle  of  nmety 
tie  nipple  and  pulled 
ihe  cap  failed  to  ex- 
factory  about   these 
s  that  ?  "  asked  the 
thoroughly  satisfied 
i  Zook.     Report  was 


82 


C  II  A  P  r  E  11    IV. 

The  army  took  tho  route  for  Chancellorville  on  the 
28th  of  April,  18G3.  Hooker's  phui  was  very  simple. 
Leaving  Sedgwick  at  Fahnouth  to  stand  guard  between 
Lee  and  Washington,  he  took  the  Second,  Third,  Fifth 
and  Eleventh  Corps  u^)  the  Rappahannock,  found  an  un- 
defended crossing  and  soon  liad  the  bodies  mentioned  on 
the  south  side  of  that  stream.  The  First  Corps  and  part 
of  the  Twelfth  afterward  joijied  him  there,  leaving  with 
Sedgwick  about  25,000  men. 

An  incident  of  the  advance  toward  Chancellorville  is 
worth  giving.  The  march  was  begun  at  four  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  but  Gen.  Hancock  was  detained,  receiving 
orders  from  Gen.  Couch,  the  commandant  of  the  corps. 
Riding  toward  the  head  of  his  division,  as  he  reached  the 
Irish  Brigade  he  suddenly  reined  in  his  horse,  leaped  to 
the  ground,  kilned  against  a  tree  and  threw  up  his  break- 
fast. The  brigade  h^d  halted  for  a  rest,  and  Hancock, 
turning  toward  the  men,  remarked  quietly,  "  Boys,  this 
getting  up  so  early  is  very  unhealthy,"  "  Ah,  thin,  Gin- 
eral  dear,"  said  a  member  of  the  Sixty-ninth  New  York, 
"  won't  you  have  the  laste  sup  in  the  world  to  take  the 
taste  out  av  yer  mouth  ?  It's  right  good  shtuff— it's  good 
enough  for  a  gineral."  In  the  meantime  Hancock  had 
taken  a  drink,  and  was  handing  back  the  canteen  to  its 


i 


8d 


I  V. 

Iiancellorville  on  the 
[Ui  was  very  simplo. 
itiiiid  guiuil  between 
Second,  Tliinl,  Fifth 
nnoek,  fouiul  uii  un- 
bodies  mentioired  on 
First  Corps  and  part 
I  there,  leaving  with 

rd  Chaneellorville  is 
un  at  four  o'elociv  in 
,s  detained,  receiving 
andant  of  the  corps, 
an,  as  he  reached   the 

his  horse,  leaped  to 
d  threw  up  hisbreak- 
a  rest,  and   Hancock, 

quietly,  "  Boys,  this 


"  4t 


All,  thin,  Gin- 
ixty-ninth  New  York, 
the  world  to  take  the 
good  shtuff — it's  good 
iutime  Hancock  had 
ck  the  canteen  to  its 


'  .:.:r3B 


1 


owner.  "Too  good,  too  good,"  he  said ;"  it's  good 
enougli  for  a  private  in  the  Sixty-ninth."  The  next  mo- 
ment he  was  galloping  on  as  though  nausea  was  unknown 
to  him. 

Hancock's  command  crossed  the  river  on  the  1st  of 
May,  and  readied  the  battle-field  about  midnight.  In 
the  morning  it  was  engaged  i)>  feeling  for  the  enemy  along 
the  left  of  Hooker's  line  ;  duty  of  great  difficulty.  His 
men  reported  from  time  to  time  that  large  bodies  of  rebels 
wei'e  moving  toward  the  right,  but  no  adecpiate  measures 
were  taken  to  meet  the  evident  effort  to  overwhelm  our 
right.  Near  evening  a  sudden  and  tremendous  (mset  of 
Stonewall  Jackson's  whole  corjjs  swept  back  our  Eleventh 
corps,  under  Howard,  and  compelled  the  reconstruction 
of  our  line.  The  fugitives  retired  in  the  greatest  disorder. 
The  disast(!r  left  Hancock  exposed  in  front  and  rear,  and 
for  a  time  he  actually  fought  his  division  in  both  direc- 
tions. Fortunately  the  rebels  did  not  press  their  attack. 
If  they  had  the  gallant  division  would  have  found  itself  in 
a  very  perilous  predicament.  In  the  midst  of  the  fighting 
Hancock  had  his  horse  shot  under  him  ;  he  leaped  to  the 
ground,  .threw  his  arms  around  the  neck  of  the  noble  ani- 
mal to  bid  him  farewell,  and  then  sent  an  aide  to  put  him 
out  of  misery. 

Historians  whose  descriptions  of  battles  are  wholly 
imaginary  frequently  have  thrilling  stories  of  the  horrible 
screams  of  wounded  horses  on  the  field.  The  writer  does 
not  deny  that  horses  ever  scream,  since  to  do  so  would  be 


84 

to  claim  that,  he  hiiil  ohserveil  tlie  cjomluct  of  uU  wouiulecl 
steeds  whatever  ;  but  he  has  sf  en  a  great  nan/  horses  hit 
on  the  field,  and  has  yet  to  liear  one  express  itself  in  this 
way.  In  the  case  referred  to,  General  Hancock's  horse 
iiad  his  leg  aliiiost  knocked  off  by  a  shell,  so  that  it  hung 
dangling  by  the  skin,  yet,  so  soon  as  it  was  left  by  its 
rider,  it  began  cropping  the  grass.  • 

On  Sunday  morning.  May  3,  Jackson's  corps,  now  led 
by  Stuart  (Jackson  having  received  his  death  wound), 
attacked  Sickles  with  desperate  fury,  and  forced  him  back 
somewhat,  though  thirty  thousand  men  lay  close  at  hand 
in  entire  inaction.  Our  line  was  then  re-formed.  In  the 
mean  time  Sedgwick  had  carried  the  heights  at  Freder- 
icksburg, and  was  driving  Ewell  back  on  Lee's  position. 
The  latter  detached  the  main  part  of  his  force  to  the  aid 
of  Ewell,  who  in  turn  drove  Sedgwick  back  across  the 
Rappahannock.  While  this  fight  was  going  on  Hooker's 
force  of  sixty  thousand  men  lay  silent  as  the  grave  and 
never  fired  a  musket  to  effect  a  diversion  in  favor  of  their 
comrades  a  few  miles  distant.  On  Wednesday  morning 
Hooker  recrossed  the  river. 

Shortly  afterward.  Couch  withdrawing,  Hancock  was 
promoted  to  the  command  of  the  gallant  Second  Corps,  and 
from  that  day  till  the  close  of  the  war  the  history  of  Han- 
cock is  ohe  history  of  the  corps  ;  its  fortunes  were  his ;  its 
glory  encircles  his  brow  ;  and  where  the  trefoil  battle  flag 
gleamed  like  a  meteor  through  the  smoke  of  battle,  there 
be  sure  was  Hancock  leading  the  charge. 


'liii*!' 


uluot  of  nil  wouiulecl 
fieat  nun  ■  horses  hit 
express  itself  in  this 
ii-al  Hancock's  horse 
shell,  so  that  it  hung 
as  it  was  left  by  its 

kson's  corps,  now  led 
1  his  death  wound), 
,  and  forced  hini  back 
nen  lay  close  at  hand 
3n  re-formed.  In  the 
le  heights  at  Freder- 
ck  on  Lee's  position. 
)f  his  force  to  the  aid 
wick  back  across  the 
as  going  on  Hooker's 
ent  as  the  grave  and 
rsion  in  favor  of  their 
Wednesday  morning 

rawing,  Hancock  was 
ant  Second  Corps,  and 
ar  the  history  of  Han- 
fortunes  were  his ;  its 
3  the  trefoil  battle  flag 
jmoke  of  battle,  there 
tiarge. 


i 


85 

Soon  after  the  battle  of  Chancellorviilc!,  Leo  resolved 
on  an  invasion  of  the  North.     To  tliis  end  he  called  to  his 
standard  every  availal)le  man,  and  started  on  his  errand 
with  the  finest  army  the  Confederacy  ever  organized.     It 
numbered  fully  100,000;  it  was  well  drilled,  ably  led,  and 
a  series  of  successes  had  given  its  men  a  conviction  that  it 
was  well  nigh  invincible.     Moving  up  the  Rapidan,  Leo 
reached  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoaii,  down  which  he 
marched  leisurely.     Hooker  followed  with  equal  delibera- 
tion, keeping  between  the  rebel  army  aid  Washington. 
Hancock  guarded  the  rear,  he  himself  being  among  the 
last  to  leave  the  lines  on  the  Rappahannock.     Moving 
rapidly  thence  to   the  neighborhood  of  Alexandria,  he 
marched  in  a  single  day  across  the  Bull  Run  battle  field, 
to  Thoroughfare  Gap  in  the  Bull  Run  Mountains,  which 
he  was  ordered  to  guard,  in  order  that  a  strong  rebel 
force,  supposed  to  be  moving  up  the  Luray  Valley,  might 
not  break  through.     He  retained  only  the  First  Division, 
his  Second  and  Third  being  posted  at  other   menaced 
points.     Early  in  the  morning  picket  firing  announced 
the  presence  of  the  enemy,  and  it  was  soon  discovered 
that  a  hostile  division  of  10,000  or  12,000  strong,  instead 
of  being  on  the  other  side  of  the  mountains,  was  rapidly 
stealing  around  to  capture  Hancock's  force,  whicli.  per- 
haps, comprised  2,000  men.     In  this  emergency  a  weak 
man  wouM  have  given  up  everything;  a  rash  man  would 
have  dashed  himself  upon  the  enemy,  with  equally  disas- 
trous results.     Hancock  did  neither;  he  comprehended 


I 


"■TT" 


,~,-  ii— ;--  jn-i-ui  -  ■■  ^-' 


86 


u  ; 


the  situation  at  a  glance,  »*\vuni,'  his  command  round,  "left 
in  front,"  80  as  to  cover  his  train  and  hisciiltle,  presenting 
a  solid  line  of  such  force  us  he  had,  unlimhered  a  hattery, 
whicli  began  shelling  the  woods,  and  moved  quickly 
northward.  Order  seemed  to  come  out  of  chaos  as  if  hy 
magic;  in  a  very  few  minutes  his  command  luid  slipped 
from  the  rebel  grasp,  and  he  lost  twelve  men  in  the  skir- 
mish which  ensued,  in  a  position  where  itseemed,aquarter 
of  an  hour  before,  that  his  whole  division  was  inevitably 
doomed  to  ca})ture.  Sometimes  better  generalship  is 
required  to  avoid  an  uneqiud  fight  than  to  win  a  battle. 


;i;*! 


mt\ 


'WV: 


l! 


m 


ill . 


87 


:)inimi!id  louiul,  "left 
.  hisciiltle,  preHeiitiiifi 
iinliml)eit!(l  a  luitteiy, 

and  moved  quickly 
out  of  chaos  as  if  by 
omniand  had  slipped 
ulvc  uien  in  the  skir- 
re  itHecmed,aquarter 
i vision  was  inevitably 
better   generalship   is 

than  to  win  a  battle. 


CHAPTER    V. 

On  the  27th  oi  Ju-.ie,  Hooker  resigned  the  command 
of  the  army,  and  Meade  became  its  leader.     Both  armies 
were  then   north  of  the  Potomac.     The  rebel  line  was 
farther  west  than  tlie  Union  army,  reaching  to  Chambers- 
burg  and  Carlisle,  in  Pennsylvania,  while  Meade's  army 
was  in  the  neighborhood  of  Frederick,  Maryland.     Fol- 
lowing out  the  plan  of  campaign  sketched  by  his  prede- 
cessor, Meade  resolved  to  concentrate  his  army  on  Pipe 
Creek,  near    Uniontown,  and   there   offer   battle.      But 
Reynolds's  corps,  which  took   part   at  Gettysburg,  was 
struck  on  the  first  of  July  by  the  rebels  streaming  back 
from  the  north,  driven  out  of  the  town  with  considerable 
loss,  and  its  leader  killed.     Hancock  was  twenty  miles 
distant.     When  he  heard  the  heavy  boom  of  the  guns, 
his  quick  ear  told  him  that  no  mere  skirmish  was  in  pro- 
gress.    Putting  spurs  to  his  horse  he  galloped  toward  the 
field,  leaving  orde.-s  that  his  command  should  follow  with 
all  possible  speed.      Meade,   who   was  'at  Taneytown, 
Maryland,  sent  orders  to  Hancock  to  examine  the  field 
and  to  decide  whether  it  would  be  better  that  the  troops 
at  Gettysburg  should  fall  back  to  the  position  originally 
selected,  or  that  the  other  corps  should  hasten  to  their 


•  I !! 


88 


I* 


iissistanco  iiiid  docido  the  buttle  on  the  spot.  Reaching 
the  sceno  of  conHiot  about  tliruc  o'clock,  Huncock  foimd 
the  First  and  Eleventh  corps  largely  outninnhered,  hadly 
beaten,  and  falling  back  in  confusion.  Howard  had  suc- 
ceeded to  the.  command  when  Reynolds  fell,  and  was 
impotent  to  stay  the  lli-^'lit  of  his  men.  Hancock's  pres- 
ence acted  like  magic  upon  the  fugitives.  Stopping  the 
tide  of  retreat,  ho  reorganized  the  broken  brigades; 
formed  a  line  along  Cemetery  Hill ;  took  in  at  one  all- 
searching  glance  the  capabilities  of  the  ground  ;  and  seat 
instant  word  to  Meade  that  Gettysburg  was  the  one  spot 
of  all  spots  in  the  world  to  fight  out  the  crisis  ofthe  war, 
and  to  determine  whether  "government  of  the  people, 
for  the  people,  and  by  the  people,"  should  or  should  not 
perish  from  the  earth. 

Before  morning  the  whole  army  except  the  Sixth  Corps 
was  on  the  grounds.  Hancock  placed  the  troops  as  they 
came  up,  and  when  daylight  of  the  2d  of  July  broke,  Lee 
was  confronted  by  70,000  veterans.  The  Twelfth  Corps 
occupied  the  right  at  Culp's  Hill,  a  steep  wooded  eleva- 
tion. Then  foUov  ed  the  Eleventh,  First,  Second  and 
Fifth  Corps.  Sickles  with  the  Third  Corps,  who  should 
have  occupied  the  space  between  the  Second  and  Fifth, 
moved  his  command  forward  nearly  a  mile  from  the  posi- 
tion assigned  him,  to  the  elevation  known  as  Seminary  or 
Oak  Ridge,  where  his  left  was  completely  in  air,  leaving 
a  wide  gap  between  himself  and  the  Fifth  Corps.  Blun- 
ders of  this  character  seldom  escaped  the  vigilant  eyes  of 


iiiL- 


8» 


tlio  spot.     Roaoliing 

lock,  Hiincock  foimd 

oiitiminbiTOil,  Wildly 

I.  Ilovvaril  liivil  suc- 
iiolds  fell,   and    was 

II.  Ilancock'H  pres- 
itives.  Stopping  tho 
le  broken  brigades ; 
1 ;  took  in  at  one  all- 
;he  ground  ;  and  sent 
urg  was  the  one  spot 
the  crisis  of  the  war, 

iiment  of  the  people, 
diould  or  should  not 

xcept  the  Sixth  Corps 
ed  the  troops  as  they 
2d  of  July  broke,  Lee 
The  Twelftli  Corps 
steep  wooded  eleva- 
h.  First,  Second  and 
rd  Corps,  who  should 
i^e  Second  and  Fifth, 
a  mile  from  the  posi- 
nown  .as  Seminary  or 
iletely  in  air,  leaving 
}  Fifth  Corps.  Blun- 
jd  the  vigilant  eyes  of 


the  robelH  ;  and  before  Sickles  could  be  retired  to  the  line 
of  Cemetery  Itidge,  the  enemy  was  upon  him.     Mcl.aws 
struck  his  left  with  great  impetuosity,  while  Hood  poured 
into  the  gap  to  get  a  position  in  bis  rear.     Sickles  himself 
never  lacked  courage,  and  both  be  and   his  men    did  all 
that  coubl  1)0  done  in  the  eniergeiu-y,  but,  taken  at  every 
disadvantage,  liis  left  doul)led  up  und  melted  away  before 
the  impetuous  assault  of  Longstreet's  veterans.     At  the 
very  crisis  of  the  struggle  Sickles  had  his  leg  almost  torn 
to  pieces  and  he  was  borne  from  the  field.     In  this  emer- 
gency Hancock  was  the  first  to  perceive  that  something 
must  be  done  at  once,  or  the  disaster  would   be  serious. 
But  alas!  his  means  were  limited.      He  could  spare  from 
his  own  line  only  a  single  division,  the  First,  scarce  2,000 
strong  ;  but,  without  a  moment's  hesitation,  he  flung  that 
gallant  handful  into  the  vortex  to  stay  the  rushing  sweep 
of  five  times  their  number.     There  was  no  time  to  change 
front;  but,  swinging  into  line,  "left  in  front,"  the  command 
filed  down  a  cross  road  leading  toward  Sherfy's  peach 
orchard,  paused  among  the  boulders  for  a  minute  to  catch 
breath,  and  then,  silent  as  the  grave,  dashed  into  the  open 
and  fell  upon  the  foe.     For  a  moment  the  work  was  dead- 
ly and  then  the  whole  rebel  line  rolled  back.     Through  a 
wheat  field  the  gallant  First  followed  the  retiring  enemy 
till  the  summit  of  Oak  Ridge  was  reached,  and  across  this 
the  conflicting  forces  swayed  and  surged  in  the  horrible 
embrace  of  mutual  destruction.     But  the  rebel  division 
filled  the  whole  line,  while  Hancock's  brigades  were  a 


-r^ 


40 

qimrtcr  of  a  inilo  apart.     Tlioy  liail  no  lino — only  groups 
of  ooml>atantH. 

Suddenly  an  officer  ran  down  from  our  rii^ht,  announc- 
ing that  the  (MUMuy  was  onco  more  Ihuiking  a  division 
into  tho  unfilled  gap.  Iloluotantly  tlio  coininand  to  retire 
was  given.  The  brigailes  lilod  off  and  marched  from  the 
fiehl  as  if  on  parade.  Tiio  reliels  rose  witli  a  yell  to 
pursue,  hut  paused  aghast,  for  as  Haiuiocic's  men  drew 
off,  a  dark  l)lue  line  was  seen  winding  across  from  under 
the  shelter  of  Little  Hound  Top,  and  our  gallant  boys 
cheered  once  more  as  they  caught  glimpses  of  tho  stars 
and  stripes  gleaming  through  the  smoke  of  war,  and  l)y 
its  side  the  battle-flag  (<f  the  glorious  Sixth  Corps.  When 
the  fight  of  the  first  opened,  Sedgwick  was  thirty-five 
miles  away ;  i)ut,  hastily  taking  the  road,  he  never 
paused  till  he  [daced  his  command  on  tha  field,  just  in 
season  to  thwart  for  the  second  time  Hood's  effort  to  step 
ii»to  tho  gaj)  which  Sickles's  mistake  had  opened.  The 
struggle  of  this  day  was  desperate  and  bloody.  Zo(;k, 
commandiu'^  the  Third  Brigade,  was  killed.  Col.  Cross, 
commanding  tue  First  Brigade,  was  killed,  and  the  Colonel 
who  succeeded  him  shared  his  fate.  Fidl  half  tho  men 
who  marched  into  that  blood-stained  wheat-field  were 
killed  or  wounded.  Among  the  most  deeply  lamented 
of  those  who  fell  was  Lieutenant-Colonel  Merwin,  com- 
manding the  Twenty-seventh  Connecticut. 

During   the   conlliiit   on    the   left  a   division   of  the 
Twelfth  Cori)s  had  l)een  drawn  from  our  extreme  right  to 


H'- 


Mm 


no — only  groupa 

r  rii^ht,  anDouni;- 
mkiii^  II  division 
ntninaiid  to  retire 
narcluMl  from  the 
io  with  ii  yell  to 
doIc'h  men  drew 
cross  from  under 
our  j^allant  boys 
ipses  of  the  stars 

of  war,  and  l)y 
:th  Corps.  When 
{  was  thirty-five 
road,  lie  never 
the.  fiehl,  just  in 
xl's  effort  to  step 
id  opened.     The 

Idoody.  Zo(;k, 
lied.  Col.  Cross, 
I,  and  tlie  CoU)nel 
idl  half  the  men 
wheat-field  were 
deeply  lamented 
lel  Merwin,  eom- 
;nt. 

division  of  the 
r  extreme  riglit  to 


41 

resist  lioni  street's  advanet'.  In  its  ahsence  Kwell  as- 
sanlted  thatstrou'^  position  and  f^'ained  a  foothold  tliero, 
so  tlnit  the  iiij^lit  of  tlie  seeontl  of  July  found  the  (Miomy 
in  oceupation  of  j^round  ho  had  wrested  from  nt'  on  l»r)th 
our  llaiiUs.  With  the  dawn  of  day  Geary  da-thed  hack 
into  his  own  line  aj^ain,  drove  out  Ewell  aft(!r  a  fierce 
stru^j;t,de,  and  restored  the  position  on  Cnlp's  Hill.  On 
other  parts  of  the  field  all  was  silent.  Ahout  noon,  how- 
ever, the  crest  of  SiMuinary  Uidj,'<',  opposite  Hancock,  be- 
gan to  bristle  with  guns.  Suddenly,  with  one  tnunendous 
roar,  the  do'^'s  of  war  o[)ened  their  iron  throats,  and  all 
the  air  was  filled  with  a  roar  of  artillery  such  as  the  west- 
ern world  has  never  witnessed  before  or  since.  Within  a 
space  of  half  a  mile  a  hundred  and  twenty  guns  launched 
their  iron  hail,  and  mostly  upon  Hancock's  corps.  Gen- 
eral Hunt  replied  as  best  he  could  ;  but  the  ground  on 
our  side  was  broken  by  rocks  and  trees,  and  he  could 
place  but  eighty  guns  to  reply  to  the  rebel  line.  The  con- 
test was  nnecpial,  and,  after  a  tremendous  duel  of  an  hour, 
our  overmatched  artillerists  drew  buck  from  the  contest. 
For  another  hour  the  rebel  guns  made  play,  our  infantry 
holding  to  their  position  with  a  tenacity  that  not  even 
that  dreadful /ew  c?'«ttf«r  could  shake.  TBen  the  clamor 
ceased,  and  from  beneath  the  dense  sulphurous  masses 
that  clothed  Seminary  Bidge  the  rebel  hosts  once  more 
moved  to  the  charge.  This  was  the  pick  and  flower  of 
Southern  chivalry.  Pettigrew  was  there,  Picket*;  was 
there,  Wilcox  was  there,  Heth  was  there,  Pender  was  in 


I 


42 

,,,erve,  and  L«e  in  pe,™n  direote.1   the  movement  and 
;,  U.  ,.e.„.t.    T,>et„eate..ofthi»awr>Ut,.a,edy. 
an  open  valley  having  a  rivnlet  rannu,g  th,-oush  .t»  ce„- 
r,-     Fvom  titiny  »t,-eam,et  the  meadow  .lopes  gently 
:  -to  Semina,.y  RUl.e  on  the  west  »"''  <>--;«;;  ;:°: 
the  ea,t.     F,-on,  Sherfy'»   peaeh  ovehard   to   Hancook 
eft  was  nearly  a  mile  ;  i>nt  on  onv  right  the  ln,e«  ap- 
'  lehed  move  neady.     As  the  long  rehel  eon«  opened 
L  to  view  Hancock  saw  that  the  decisive  honv  had  com 
He  hastily  sent  an  aide  to  the  Chief  of  Art.llevy.        1  " 
Major-General  Hunt,"  said  he,  "  to  give  me  'wol.at  J^s 
and  more  it  he  can  spare  them."     In  a  mmnte  or    wo  a 
Tonple  of  batteries  of  2i-ineh  rifled  gnns  came  ga  lop.ng 
:r  . >Wi,y  do  yon  hring  those  gun, ?"  shonte     H.vn- 

oLkin   wrath.     "I  don't    want    those  pop-guns.      I  11 
Oener.^l  Hunt  to  give  me  son.e  N"!-!-"  B--     ^       ' 
I'll  see  Oeneral  Hunt  myself."     Soon  the  iu-.ght  cl  unky 
,n.„n.e  guns  came  wheeling  down,  uulimbered  and  p.e- 
pared  t.^  open  upon  the  enenry.    The  Napo  eon  gun  ,s  a 
brass  12.ponnder,  throwing  round  shot  camster  or  ^  ap- 
nel.     Itsoraetimes  throws  grape  ;  but  I  beUeve  no  g.ape 
was  used  at  Gettysburg.  ^_ 

Meanwhile  '  the  long  line  came  gleammg  on  down 
the  opposite  sh,pe.  It  was  a  gallant  array  No  coward 
„earts  beat  beneatl,  those  tattered  battle-flags.  These 
were  the  men  who  had  contested  every  incl>  of  ground  from 
Fair  Oaks  to  Chancellcnville ;  and,  at  "right  shoulder 
shift"  they  stepped  forward  as  if  on  paraile.    But  now 


43 


e  movement  and 
awful  tragedy   's 
through  its  cen- 
o\v  slopes  gently 
Cemetery  Uidge  on 
ird    to   Hancock's 
ight  the  lines  ap- 
ibel  corps  opejied 
ive  hour  had  come. 

Artillery.     "Tell 
e  me  two  batteries, 

minute  or  two  a 
ins  came  galloping 
s?"  shouted  Han- 
ie  pop-guns'.  Tell 
)leon  guns.     Stop  ■. 

the  bright  cliunky 
ilimbered  and  pre- 

Napoleou  gun  is  a 
)t,  canister  or  shrap- 
b  I  believe  no  grape 

gleaming  on"  down 
b  array.  No  coward 
battle-flags.  These 
y  inch  of  ground  from 
,  at  "  right  shoulder 
)n  parade.     But  now 


the  brazen  bull-dogs  began  to  bark.     The  range  was  eight 
hundred  yards,  and  the  Napoleon  guns  were  loaded  with 
canister.     As  each  piece  spoke  there  was  a  hurtling,  rush- 
ing sound  like  an  awful  whisper  of  death  shuddering  down 
a  storm-blast,  and  then  a  bloody  chasm  would  open  in  the 
advancing   line.     Again  and  again  and   again  the  guns 
belched  out  their  deadly  message  ;  and  again  and  yet  again 
the  stern  warriors  closed  their  ranks  and  moved  onward 
to  the  charge.     Dead  and  dying  are  left  a.  every  step — 
bloody  drops  of  agony  wrung  from  the  giant  division  at 
every  fatal  footfall ;  but  still  those  heroic  men  press  on. 
They  reach  within  three  iumdred  yards  of  Hancock's  line, 
when  suddenly  that  terrible  Second  Corps  rises  to  its  feet 
and  pours  in  a  voUoy  that  smites  down  the  battalions  of 
Pettigrew   and  Pickett  as  if   God's  avenging  angel  had 
breatiied  upon  them.    Whole  brigades  withered  and  shrunk 
intoannilnlation  be  fore  that  terrible  storm  of  death.    Many 
threw  up  their  hands,  came  into  our  lines  and  sought  the 
rear  as  prisoniMs.     Farther  to  the  right,  however,  the  at- 
tacking column  actually  pushed  on  till  it  struck  our  line 
and  charged  with  the  bayonet.     There  was  a  horrible  mo- 
ment of  active  death  that  makes  the  soul  sick  with  horror 
to  contemplate;  and  then  the  remnants. of  that  gallant 
eighteen  thousand    rolled   back,  blaspheming,  bleeding, 
despairing,  dying,  and  the  crisis  of  the  war  was  past.     Lee 
had  wasted  twelve  thousand  veterans,  and  had  lost  the 
flower  of  his  army.     Five  thousand  prisoners  and  thirty 
three  colors  were  taken  in  front  of  Hancock's  line. 


!'i 


i^^&u^'fiq^vaMii 


44 


Fredericksburg  was  avenged ! 

In  the  very  moment  of  victory  Hancock  was  wounded. 
A  shell  from  the  enemy  had  struck  a  fence  and  sent  the 
splinters  flying.  A  big  rusty  nail  struck  Hancock  u.  the 
thic^h  and  penetrated  to  the  bone,  splintering  it,  and  mak- 
incTun  ugly  flesh  wound.  He  pulled  the  nail  from  lus  leg 
ami  remarked  :  »  They  must  be  hard  up  for  am.nunit,on 
when  they  throw  such  shot  as  that!"  He  refused  to 
leave  the  field  till  it  was  evident  the  attack  would  not  be 

renewed. 

Hancock  dispatched  an  aide  to  Gen.  Meade,  saying  : 
"Tell  Gen.  Meade  that  the  troops  under  my  command 
have  repulsed  the  enemy,  who  are  now  flying  in  all  direc- 
tions in  my  front."  Meade  replied  :  "  Say  to  Gen.  Han- 
cock [  regret  exceedingly  that  he  is  wounded,  and  that  I 
thank  him,  for  the  country  and  myself,  for  the  service  he 

has  rendered  to-day." 

On  each  of  the  three  days  of  this  greatest  of  Ameri- 
can conflicts,  Haucock  liad  been  the  savior  of  the  army. 
On   the  first  he  had  stayed   the  retreat  of  our   troops, 
brought  order  out  of  confusion,  selected  the  line  of  oper- 
ations, decided  upon  the  place  to  figbt,  and  assigned  to 
the  troops  their  positions.     On  the  second,  Meade  had 
asked  him  to  take  command  on  the  left,  where  he  had  re- 
paired Sickles's  disaster,  stopped  Hood's  career,  and  pre- 
servcl  our  line.     Ou  the  third,  he  had  repelled  the  last 
desperate  assault  with  a  carnage  that  broke  the  spirit  of 
the  enemy  and  practically  ended  the  battle. 


g 


t- 


45 


)ck  was  wounded. 
Mice  and  sent  the 
k  Hancock  in  the 
ering  it,  and  niak- 
e  nail  from  his  leg 
p  for  ammunition 
'  He  refused  to 
tack  would  not  be 

n.  Meade,  saying : 
der  my  command 
flying  in  all  direc- 
Say  to  Gen.  Han- 
(unded,  and  that  I 
,  for  the  service  he 

"•reatest  of  Ameri- 
Lvior  of  the  army. 
Bat  of  our   troops, 
id  the  line  of  oper- 
ht,  and  assigned  to 
second,  Meade  had 
t,  where  he  had  re- 
d's career,  and  pre- 
lad  repelled  the  last 
broke  the  spirit  of 
battle. 


Meade  thanked  him  on  the  field  of  battle  ;  the  Con- 
<Tress  of  the  United  States  returned  liim  the  tlianks  of  the 
country,  and  the  people  ratified  the  resolution. 

His  wound  was  found  to  be  severe,  and  he  went  to 
ills  parents'  home  at  Norristown  to  recover.  So  soon  as 
he  was  able  to  walk  with  a  crutcli,  he  paid  a  hasty  visit 
to  West  Point,  and  thence  retired  to  his  own  home  at 
Longwood,  near  St.  Louis.  Ft  was  Winter  before  lie  re- 
joined his  command  ;  and,  even  then,  his  wound  contin- 
ued to  give  him  much  trouble.  The  tliigh-bone  had  been 
more  or  less  shattered,  and  from  time  to  time  pieces  would 
work  out  and  reopen  the  wound.  In  the  Winter  he  was 
ordered  North  on  special  recruiting  duty,  the  intention 
being  that  his  corps  should  be  strengthened  up  to  50,000. 
In  carrying  out  ^his  object  lie  went  from  city  to  city,  and 
was  everywhere  received  with  ujibounded  honor.  In 
Philadelphia  he  received  a  most  graceful  compliment,  be- 
ing tendered  a  public  reception  in  Independence  Hall. 
B'ollowing  is  a  copy  of  the  resolution  passed  on  that  occa- 
sion by  the  City  Council : 

SELECT   AND  COMMON  COUNCIL  OF   THE  CITY  OP  IMIILADELPIItA. 

Welcome  to  Ma.ioh  Genekal  Winfiuld  ScOtt  Hancock. 

Resolved,  by  the  Select  and  Common  Uouneil  of  the  City  of  Philadel- 
phia, That  the  thanks  ot  the  citizens  of  Philadelphia  are  eminently 
due  and  are  hereby  tendered  to 

J«ajoc  ffienccal  Jftancocft, 

for  his  brilliant  services  in  the  cause  of  the  Union,  during  the  present 


46 

unholy  rebellion  ag.unst  the  ..uthovity  of  tUe  governnu-nt  and  ,>eo„lo 
of  the  Unitcil  Hliites. 

7  ;  ,  Th.a  ihe  use  of  Independence  Hall  b',  -ranted  to  Major 
n  """";  Tit,<^fck  t^r  ception  of  his  friends,  and  in  order  to  afford 
?h"'' iuln  "  PU  u  e  I  hi^^  opportunity  to  testify  their  pe.-sonal 
^^a  Jr^:  alulte^r'appreciat!;.  of  his  gallantry  and  pamot.n. 
,  7  .rf  That  ihe  Mayor  of  Philadelphia  and  the  Trcsulent  ot 
n  It  re     e  ted  to  en  rv  the  resolution  into  effect,  and  that  the 

^;:r  ^f  «nst  re.u..ted  to  i.rnish  a  copy  of  the  same  to 
General  Hancock. 

The   ovatiott  was   one   of    the  most   gratifying   ever 
accorded  an  American  citizen.     On  the  very  spot  made 
sacred  by  ovtr  revohttionary  history;    in  the   very  hall 
where  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  signed ;  at  the 
very  desk  on  which  it  was  signed  ;  beside  the  very  chair 
in  which  John  Hancock  sat  wheii  he  sigt.ed  it,  and  .n 
which  George  Washington   sat  when  he  presided  over 
the   first  Congress  of   the  United  States;    beneath  the 
great   bell   which    "  proclaimed   liberty   throttghoat  the 
land  to  all  the  inhabitants  thereof";  sttrrottnded  byi^Ucs 
of  the  days  that  tried  men's  sonls-Winfield  Scott  Han- 
cock  was  congratulated  by  his  fellow  citizens  for  h.s  hero- 
ism in  defending  that  Union  which  Joht:  Hancock  hud 
done  so  much  to  create. 

From  Philadelphia  Hancock's  duties  took  him  to  New 
Yovk  Here  another  magnificent  reception  was  tendered 
him  in  the  Governor's  room  at  the  City  Hall.  At  Albany 
the  Legislattire  paid  him  honor  ;  and  in  Boston  the  Gen- 
eral Court  invited  him  to  a  seat  on  the  floor  of  the  House. 
At  a  later  date  a  magnificently-mounted  swora  was  voted 


t( 

ti 

SI 

L 


..  ,-1 


ovcrnnu'Dt  and  people 

1  Im!  i^ranted  to  Major 
s,  and  in  order  to  iitrord 
)  t«8tii'y  their  personal 
llanlry  and  patriotism. 

and  the  Trcsident  (4' 
into  etrect,  and  that  the 

copy  of   the  same  to 


st  gratifying  ever 
be  very  spot  made 
in  the   very  hall 
B  was  signed ;  at  the 
•side  the  very  chair 
le  signed  it,  and  in 
1  he  presided  over 
tales  ;    beneath  the 
L'ty   throughout  the 
surrounded  by  relics 
Vinfield  Scott  Han- 
citizens  for  his  hero- 
John  Hancock  hud 

ies  took  him  to  New 
seption  was  tendered 
ty  Hall.  At  Albany 
i  in  Boston  the  Gen- 
tie  floor  of  the  House, 
ited  sword  was  voted 


47 

to  him  at  the  Mississippi  Sanitary  Fair;  and  at  the  Cen- 
tral Sanitary  Fair  in  Pliiladelphia  a  costly  and  beautiful 
set  of  horse  equipments  was  voted  iiiin  as  the  most  popu- 
lar soldier  of  the  war. 


J 


4ft 


C  H  A  P  T  E  R    VI. 

Before  Spring  he  resumed  liis  command.  Grant  had 
come  east  to  iissiime  personal  direction  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  which  was  divided  into  three  grand  divisions, 
the  right  of  which,  the  Second  Corps,  was  placed  under 
the  command  of  Hancock  ;  the  center,  the  Fifth  Corps,  was 
under  Sedgwick.  Burnside,  with  the  Ninth  Corps,  was 
added  to  tlie  army  after  crossing  the  Rapidan,  and  this 
swelled  the  total  force  under  Grant's  command  to  more 
than  a  hundred  tliousand.  The  opposing  army,  under 
Lee,  probably  numbered  about  seventy-five  thousand. 

On  the  4th  of  May  Grant  crossed  the  Rapidan,  and 
entered  upon  one  of  the  most  protracted,  desperate  and 
bloody  struggles  recorded  in  history.     On  reaching  the 
south  bank  of  the  Rapidan,  the  army  entered  the  desolate 
wooded  region  known  as  the  Wilderness,  a  few  miles  west 
of  the  Chancellorville  battlefield.     Grant's  design  was  to 
cross  this  region,  then  mass  against^  Lee,  crush  him  in 
battle  if  possible,  if  not,  turn  his  right  and  cut  him  off 
from  his  base  of  supplies.     Lee  would  then  have  the  op- 
tion of  fighting  to  regain  his  communications  with  Rich- 
mond, or  of  making  a  sudden  and   determined  dash  on 
Washington.     In  the  former  c^.se  Grant  would  intrench, 
and  would  of  course  laugh  at  all  attempts  on  Lee"s  part 


t 
(] 
t 
t 

V 
ii 

t( 

t( 


I> 

P 
ri 

ai 

w 

oi 

w 

SI) 

bi 
in 

si( 

CO 

nc 
H 

ca 

ac 


-"**^Ty«-      *a 


49 


mand.  Grant  bad 
of  the  Army  of  the 
ie  ffraiid  divisions, 
,  was  placed  under 
he  Fifth  Corps,  was 
i  Ninth  Corps,  was 

Rapidan,  and  this 
,  command  to  more 
posing  army,  under 
y-five  thousand. 
I  the  Rapidan,  and 
:;ted,  desperate  and 
On  reaching  the 
sntered  the  desohtte 
iss,  a  few  miles  west 
rant's  design  was  to 

Lee,  crush  him  in 
ht  and  cut  him  off 
d  then  have  the  op- 
nioations  with  Rich- 
letermined  dash  on 
ant  would  intrench, 
:empts  on  Lee"s  part 


to  break  his  lines ;  in  the  latter  case,  the  strong  defences 
of  the  capital  would  be  able  to  hold  the  enemy  at  bay 
till  Grant,  following  on  Lee's  heels,  could  catch  him  in  a 
trap  and  capture  him. 

Lee,  however,  had  other  views.      Ho   proposed   to 
plant    himself  s(iuarely  in   Grant's   road  to   Richmond, 
intrench  aiul  await  his  enemy's  assaults  undercover,  and 
to  strike  at  every   exposed   flank  during  a  movement 
toward  the  South.     Grant  had  the  advantage  in  numbers, 
but    Lee  had  position  and    perfect  familiarity  with  the 
ground  in  his  favor.     And,  to  begin  with,  he  did  not  pro- 
pose to  lot  Grant  march  through  the  Wilderness  unop- 
posed.   Ewell  was  near  the  Wilderness,  resting  on  the 
river.     Hastily  summoning  his  other  corps,  under  Hill 
and  Longstreet,  Lee  placed    himself  on   Grant's  flank, 
waited  till  Hancock  had  passed  him  ten  miles,  and  then, 
on  the  5th,  threw  Hill  with  great  fury  on  Warren.   Sedg- 
wick was  soon  after  attacked  by  Ewell.     Grant  at  first 
supposed  these  were  demonstra  tions  to  retard  his  march  ; 
but  so  soon  as  he  became  convinced  that  he  was  assailed 
in  earnest,  he  recalled  Hancock  and  sent  word  to  Burn- 
side,  still  north  of  the  Rapidan,  to  hurry  to  his  aid.    Han- 
cock retraced  his  steps  with  all  possible  speed,  but  was 
none  too  soon  to    relieve   Warren  from  the  pressure  of 
Hill's  attack.     During  the  night  of  the  5th,  Longstreet 
came  upon  the  scene.     Hancock  divined   that  Longstreet 
would  detach  part  of  his  corps  for  a  flanking  movement ; 
accordingly  he  posted  half  of  his  own  corps  to  resist  this 


nmiiiii 


60 

attempt,  and  at  5  o'clock  in  the  morning,  attacked  in  front 
with  the  other  half.     This  movement  was  brilliantly  Buc- 
cossful,  the  enemy  being  driven  back   abont  two  m.les 
As  the  other  corps  had  not  advanced,  Hancock  consulered 
a  fnrthcr  advance  dangerous,  and  rested  here.     Lee  then 
recalled  Longstreot's  flanking  division,  and  massing  the 
whole  of  Longstreet's  and  Hill's  corps,   made   •   o   most 
desperate   assaults  on  the  Second  Corps.    The  fighting 
ranks  among  the  most    determined  and  deadly  of  the 
whole  war.     The  ground  was  thicldy    wooded ;  artillery 
could   not   bo   used   at  all;   and   the  contending  forces 
could  not  see  each  other  until  they  were  at  close  quarters, 
lu  the  afternoon  Stevenson's  division  of  Burnside  s  corps 
was  driven  back  and  Hancock's  right   was    threatened. 
The  latter  sent  Carroll's  brigade  to  encounter  this  new 
enenw,  which,  taking  the   rebels  in  flank,  routed  them 
with  great  slaughter.     Up  to  four  o'clock  our  men  held 
their  lines  against   the  most   determined  assaults;   but 
now  a  new  foe  assailed  them,  against  which  they  were 
powerless    to  contend.      The    dry    leaves   lying   thick 
beneath  the  trees  had  cauglit  fire,  and  the  wind  blowmg 
toward  Hancock's  position,  his   whole  line  of  wooden 
breastworks   was  soon  in  a  blaze.      The   position  was 
dreadful,  for  those  of  our  wounded  who  were  unable  to 
crawl  off  were  literally  roasted  alive.     Our  line  retired; 
and,  the  flames  passing  on  as  soon  as  the  lighter  material 
was  consumed,  the  rebels,  with  a  yell,  rushed  into  th. 
work  and  occupied  it.    They   had  scarce  done  so,  how- 


51 


attacked  in  front 
8  brilliantly  Buc- 
about  two  miles, 
incock  considered 
[  here.  Lee  then 
and  massing  the 

made  •  o  most 
ps.  The  fighting 
id  deadly  of  the 
wooded;  artillery 
3on  tending  forces 
3  at  close  (quarters. 
f  liurnside'a  corps 

was  threatened, 
iicounter  this  new 
lank,  routed  them 
lock  our  men  held 
ned  assaults;   but 

which  they  were 
eaves   lying   thick 

the  wind  blowing 
»le  line  of  wooden 

The  position  was 
ivho  were  unable  to 
Our  line  retired ; 
the  lighter  material 
11,  rushed  into  thi 
arce  done  so,  how- 


ever, before  Hancock  charged  them  again,  drove  them 
out  with  loss,  and  regained  tlie  position.  This  ended  the 
fighting  on  Hancock's  front.  At  a  later  hour,  Ewell  sud- 
denly swooped  down  on  Sedgwick,  captured  the  greater 
part  of  two  brigadec.,  and  got  safe  off  witli  his  prize.  On 
the  morning  of  the  7th,  Lee  was  found  to  have  drawn  off 
and  intrenclied  himself  in  a  position  ■  liich  Grant  did  not 
deem  it  prudent  to  assail.  Our  h  wore  20,000,  includ- 
ing 6,000  prisoners.  Hancock  was  sligiitly  wounded 
during  the  battle  of  the  6th. 

On  the  evening  of  the  7th,  Grant  again  turned  his  face 
toward  Richmond.  IJut  lio  had  to  move  with  great  cau- 
tion, guarding  well  his  flanks  against  his  vigilant  foe,  who 
was  ever  oa  the  watch  to  take  advantage  of  tlio  slightest 
error.  Tliis  gave  Lee  plenty  of  time  to  again  post  him- 
self across  Grant's  line  of  niiirch ;  and  when  the  latter 
readied  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  he  found  himself 
once  more  in  front  of  a  strong  natural  position,  made 
doubly  strong  by  art,  and  manned  by  the  whole  rebel 
army. 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  during  this  whole  series 
of  maneuvers  and  battles,  from  tlie  Wilderness  to  Cold 
Harbor,  the  enemy  did  not  fall  back  before  Grant ;  the 
armies  marched  side  by  side.  Wlien  they  came  in  con- 
tact they  fought ;  when  they  got  tired  fighting  they  turned 
southward  again ;  but  Lee  always  had  the  shorter  line, 
and  was  always  able  to  secure  a  position  threatening 
Grant.    Grant  did  not  appear  able  even  to  gain  a  position 


li 


mrm 


52 


threatening  Lee.     Again,  when  Grant  made  a  mistake 
Leo  was  always  ready  to  pounce  upon  and  punish  him  ; 
while  we  are  forced  to  conclude  either  that  Lee  never 
made  any  mistakes,  or  that  if  ho  did.  Grant  was  never 
ready  to  take  advantage  of  them.     When  Lee  struck  our 
troops  they  were  always  on  the  march  or  in  the  open  ; 
when  we  attacked  the  rebels,  they  were  always  in  a  strong 
position,  well  fortified.      Why  Lee  was  always  able  to 
march  on  the  shorter  line,  while  Grant  was  always  com- 
pelled to  make  detours  ;  why  Grant  was  always  compelled 
to  lose  time  in  guarding  his  flanks  from  assault,  while  Lee 
was  always  able  to  move  with  celerity  and  lose  no  time  in 
guardingagainst  Grant-these  are  matters  the  military 

critics  must  settle. 

Lee's  position  was  on  a  ridge,  his  center  touching  the 
River  Po,  but  botli  of  his  wings  refused,. his  whole  line 
forming  a  crescent.     On  the  9th  there  was  some  skirmish- 
ing, during  which  General  Sedgwick  was  killed.     On  the 
lOt'h  Hancock  moved  upon  the  enemy's  right,  forced  the 
passage  of  the  river  and  gaii.ed  some  advantages.      But 
Grant  had  determined  to  make  his  grand  attack  on  Lee's 
center,  and  ordere  J  Hancock  back.    As  soon  as  the  latter 
began  to  retire  ho  was  of  course  attacked,  and  the  fight- 
ing was  obstinate.     To  add  to  its  horrors,  the  woods  again 
took  fire,  and  many  of  the  wounded   were   burned   to 
death.     The  losses  here  were  about  equal;    the  rebel 
attack  was  beaten  off,  and  Hancock  re-crossed  in  safety. 
Two  of  his  divisions  were  then  withdrawn  to  reinforce 


68 


made  a  mistake 
lid  pnniah  him  ; 
that  Lee  never 
Jrnnt  was  never 
I  Lee  struck  our 
or  in  the  open  ; 
Iways  in  a  strong 
always  able  to 
was  always  com- 
iilways  compelled 
issault,  while  Lee 
id  lose  no  time  in 
iters  the  military 

liter  touching  the 
ud,.hi8  whole  line 
'na  some  skirmish- 
is  killed.     On  the 
3  right,  forced  the 
idvantages.      But 
id  attack  on  Lee's 
J  soon  as  the  latter 
ed,  and  the  fight- 
's, the  woods  again 
were   burned   to 
equal;    the  rebel 
-crossed  in  safety. 
Irawn  to  reinforce 


Wurron  in  his  assault  upon  the  enemy's  center.     Two 
chartjjos  were  made  and  repulsed  by  the  enemy,  witii  a 
loss  to  our  side  of  r),000  men.     The  indomitable  spirit  of 
the  Union  leader  displayed  itself  on  this  occasion,  for  it 
was  on  tlio  evening  of  this  i)loody  repulse  that  ho  sent  a 
dispatch  to  Washington  containing  the  famous  sentence, 
"  J  propone  to  fight  it  out  on  this  line  if  it  takes  all  summer." 
Some  rain   fell  during  the  afternoon,  and  the  night  was 
dark,  gloomy  and  foggy.     If  Grant  was  able  to  adhere 
more  firmly  to  his  set  purpose  after  a  disaster,  Hancock 
was  n  man  after  his  owr  heart.    No  sooner  had  night 
fallen  than  he  moved  his  whole  command  to  the  left,  once 
more  re-cros?ed  the  river,  and   halted  for  a  few  liours 
of  needed  rest.     The  morning  had  not  come  wlien  he  was 
again   in   motion.      Silentl)^  as  death    his  lines    moved 
through  the  dark  woods,  concealed  by  the  heavy  fogs.  As 
soon  as  the  enemy's  pickets  were  seen,  the  whole  corps 
dashed  forward  with  a  cheer,  leaped  over  the  rebel  works 
and  carried  them  with  a  bound.     Four  thousand  prisoners 
and  thirty  guns  were  taken.     Hancock  hastily  scribbled 
to  Grant:  "I  have  captured  from  thirty  to  forty  guns," 
he  said ;  "  I  have  finished  up  Johnson  and  am  going  into 
Early."     He  found,  however,  that  the  enemy's  second 
line  was  too  strong  to  be  assailed,  and  he  was  soon  con- 
vinced that  he  need  not  go  beyond  the  works  he  had 
already  captured  in  search  c'  fighting.     Scarce  had  our 
own  men  reversed  the  rifle-pitd  to  serve  as  a  cover  against 
rebel  attacks,  when  strong  and  determined  attempts  were 


J 


54 


,n,i.l«  t.»  lo-tuko  l)..m.     1.00  was  ..Hi.ally  tho  .nost  lUMulont 
.,f  c(,.n.nan<kMH,   HeMom   iiski..«   un   aHsault   unlcHH  tlu, 
ol.j^ct  ainuul  at  waH  fully  ccpuvl  to  tho  rrnkK  attondiuK  >t. 
c<,nMU0Ht.     In   tho  i.r.Hont  caKO,  howovor,  ho  appoarcd  to 
allow  hiH  fooliuKH  to  .11..  away  with  hin  .lisciot.on.      Tho 
captiuoa  tr..oi.H  woro  ir,ocovo.-al.ly  Ko..e  ;  tho  km.hb  ha<l 
nearly  all  boo..  ro...ovoa ;   tho  works  tl.«.nsolvoH  woro  ..ot 
os««..tial  to  tho  i..tepity  of  his  position  ;  yet  ho  appearod 
i„Ha.,«ly  bont  o..  regai.ib.g  tho.n,  .lo  .natter  what  tho  cost 
might  be.     He  had  boo.i  i..  tho  works,  a..d  was  very  .loar 
capture    who.i    Ha,.cock   so   u..core.no..iously   made   h.s 
morni..«  call.      Indeed  the  Confodorato  louder  is  sa.d  to 
have  departed  toward  tho  rear  i..  a  .nan..or  .noro  expedi- 
tious tha..  dig..ified.     A..d  he  evidently  fo.med  a  vo.y 
firm   determinatio.i   that   th*o   Second   Corps  should  ..ot 
retain  tho  positio..  it  had  gained.     Accordb.gly  ho  col- 
lected every  .na..  that  could  be  spared  from  tho  rest  of  Ins 
lines,  and  hu.-lodtwo  full  corps  at  Ha.icock.     Tho  hght 
that  e.isued  was  amo.ig  the  most  deter.ni.ied  ever  wit- 
nessed.    Our  me.i   voro  well  protected;  a.id  they  poured 
the  most  mu.derous  volleys  i..to  their  antago.iists  as  they 
charged.     Lino  after  line  dashed  up  to^tho  earthworks  i.i 
tho  very  mad.iess  of  heroic  resolve  ;  but  they  wore  met 
by  men  no  less  brave  than  they.    Again  and  again  the 
desperate  assault  was  made,  but  ever  without  success. 
Sometimes  the  troops  in  gray  would  actually  reach  the 
rifle-pits,   and  then  the  musketry  ceased  and   the   men 
fought  over  the  low  earthen  prapet  with  the  bayonet. 


66 


tlio  inortt  priulunt 
siviilt    uiileHrt  tlu) 
iskrt  iitUiiuUnK'  >t>* 
r,  ho  iippoarcd  to 
disciotion.     Tho 
le  ;  the  f^iiiia  luul 
mnolvos  were  not 
;  yet  ho  iippeaied 
;ter  whiit  the  cost 
,n(l  was  very  near 
liously   made   Ids 
0  louder  is  said  to 
mor  more  expodi- 
tly  formed  a  very 
Corps  should  not 
ccoidingly  ho  col- 
iom  tho  rest  of  his 
ncock.    Tho  fight 
Lerinined  ever  wit- 
;  and  they  poured 
[antagonists  as  they 

tho  earthworks  in 
but  they  were  met 
.sain  and  again  the 
I-  without  success. 

actually  reach  the 
[vsed  and  the  men 
,  with  the  bayonet. 


lUit,  in  spite  of  thuir  sui>orliiiinan  elTorts,  tho  rebel  niiikH 
wore  surely  forced  buck  from  every  vain  endeavor,  and 
always  left  their  dead  and  wounded  behind  in  thousands. 
All  day  long  that  Titanic  contest  wont  on.  Cartriilge- 
boxes  wont  out  of  fashion,  and  Hancock's  mon  fought 
with  open  ammunition  boxes  beside  them.  Tho  frightful 
iHituro  of  tho  contest  may  be  judged  by  tho  fact  that 
everywhere  within  musket  range  of  that  fiery  vortex  tho 
forest  trees  were  killed  ;  "and  one  tree  eighteen  inches  in 
diameter  was  cut  clean  in  two  by  tho  bullets."  Tho  day 
passed  away  and  night  came  once  more,  but  the  awful 
confiict  never  paused,  t'ive  times  tho  rebel  hosts  shrunk 
back  from  tho  terrilile  ordeal ;  but  every  time  Leo  re- 
formed them  anti  ordered  them  back  to  tho  fight.  Tho 
forest  was  filled  with  the  smoke  of  battle,  dindy  lighted 
up  with  tho  incessant  fiashes  of  the  musketry.  Tho 
troops,  hungry,  thirsty,  worn  with  their  tremendous 
efforts,  seemed  mad  with  tho  very  mania  of  battle  —  their 
faces  black  with  powder,  their  throats  parched  with  thii*st 
—  crazed,  insane,  furious,  they  dashed  upon  each  other 
like  warring  fiends,  till  pandemonium  itself  offered  no 
parallel  to  the  scene.  At  length  human  nature  could 
endure  no  more  ;  and  at  midnight  Leo  withdrew  his  ivholo 
army  to  a  second  lino,  stronger  than  the  first,  and  relin- 
quished to  the  victors  their  hard-won  prize.  It  may  well 
be  imagined  that,  after  twenty  hours  of  such  a  desperate 
struggle,  our  men  had  no  desire  to  pursue. 


56 


CHAPTER    VII. 

Some  days  were  now  devoted  to  strategy,  Grant  en- 
deavoring to  turn  Lee's  right  flank,  but  without  success. 
Lee,  on  the  other  hand,  had  had  enough  of  fightnig  for 
the  present,  and  stood  on  the  defensive.    Every  where  he 
threw  up  works  in  his  front,  and  was  quite  wilhng  to  be 
attacked.    On  the  18th,  Gibbon  and  Barlow  made  dem- 
onstrations against  Lee's  right,  but  made  no  impression^ 
On  the  19th,  Ewell  drove  in  Tyler's  division  of  the  Fitth 
Corps.    Hancock  sent  assistance,  and  Ewell  was  driven 
off  with  considerable  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  and  sev- 
eral hundred  prisoners. 

In  two  weeks  after  crossing  the  Rapidan,  our  army 

had  lost  forty  thousand  men. 

On  the  night  of  the  20th,  Grant  withdrew  from  the 
front  of    Lee's  position,  and  turned  once  more  toward 
Richmond,  Hancock  in  the  advance  ;  but  on  reachiug  the 
North  Anna  River,  his  indefatigable  enemy  was,  as  usual, 
found  en-enched  in  a  strong  position,  barring  the  road 
While  our  troops  were  on  the  march,  on  the  2l8t,  Hill 
attacked  the  Sixth  Corps,  now  Wright's,  but  was  easily 
beaten  off.    On  the  23d,  Griffin's  division  was  assailed 
with  like  result;  and  on  the  same  day  Cutler,  being 
^s^ulted,  beat  the  rebels  badl^,  and  took  a  tho^sa^d 


V 

tl 

o 
r 

2 

t 

E 
( 

I 
c 


itegy,  Grant  en- 
without  success, 
h  of  fighting  for 
Every  where  he 
ito  willing  to  be 
arlow  made  dem- 
le  no  impression, 
ision  of  the  Fifth 
Ewell  was  driven 
wounded  and  sev- 

apidan,  our  array 

nthdrew  from  the 
)nce  more  toward 
ut  on  reachibg  the 
emy  was,  as  usual, 
,  barring  the  road. 
1,  on  the  2l8t,  Hill 
it's,  but  was  easily 
vision  was  assailed 
day  Cutler,  being 
i  took  a  thousand 


57 

prisoners.  About  the  same  time  Hancock  advan'jed  on 
the  enemy's  riglit,  beat  McLaws,  took  a  work  of  some 
strength,  and  gained  a  strong  position  on  the  south  bank 
of  the  river.  But  after  a  careful  examination  of  the 
rebel  position,  Grant  decided  not  to  assault  it,  and  on  the 
26th  he  again  executed  his  favorite  flank  movement 
toward  Richmond,  leaving  Hancock  to  guard  his  rear. 

The  Pamunkey  River  was  crossed  without  serious  op- 
position, and  the  army  entered  upon  the, scene  of  Mc- 
Clellan's  campaign  of  1862.  Skirmishing  and  minor  com- 
bats were  frequent,  with  the  advantage  somewhat  on  our 
side.  On  the  2d  of  June,  the  armies  confronted  each 
other  at  Cold  Harbor,  almost  on  the  scene  of  the  battle 
with  Porter,  two  years  earlier  ;  but  this  time  the  positions 
were  reversed  —  Lee,  largely  outnumbered,  intrenched 
himself  and  awaited  Grant's  attack.  The  latter  had  been 
reinforced  by  Smith's  Eighteenth  Corps. 

On  the  morning  of  June  3,  Grant  ordered  a  general 
assault  upon  the  enemy's  lines,  and  this  was  made  l)y  the 
Second,  Sixth  and  Eighteenth  Corps.  Burnside  was 
ordered  to  assault  at  the  same  time,  but  he  did  not  get 
up  early  enough.  The  Sixth  and  Eighteenth  Corps 
charged  without  mu«h  spirit,  and  were  driven  back  after 
suffering  inconsiderable  loss.  Not  so  vfrith  the  Second 
Corps.  Barlow  and  Gibbons  dashed  furiously  upon  the 
enemy's  works  through  a  dreadful  fire  of  artillery  and 
musketr}';  and  the  former  actually  gained  a  foothold 
vyrithiij  tl^e  outer  works  j  bvjt  here  he  foijnd  himself  e:?- 


68 


posed  to  a  direct  fire  from  a  second  line  in  his  front  and 
an  enfilading  fire  on  both  flanks  from  the  works  he  had 
entered.     After  losing  heavily,  he  was  forced  out,  and 
the  whole  Second  Corps  threw  up  works  a  few  yards  in 
front  of  the  enemy's  position.    In  half  an  hour's  time 
7,000  men  had  been  killed  and  wounded.     After  the  fight- 
ing was  all  over,  Burnside  announced  that  he  had  got  into 
position  on  the  enemy's  flank  and  was  ready   to  attack  ; 
but  the  assault  in  which  he  was  expected  to  join  had  now 
failed,  and  Burnside  was  recalled.     In  the  evening,  the 
rebels  made  a  feeble  attempt  to  drive  the  Second  Corps 
from  the  new  rifle-pits  It  liad  thrown  up,  but  they  were 
beaten  off  with  little  loss  on  eitlicr  side. 

In  all  the  operations  around  Cold  Harbor,  the  losses 
to  the  Union  army  aggregated  13,000. 

Our  army  remained  in  front  of  Cold  Harbor  more  than 
a  week,  the  lines  in  some  places  so  close  that  a.  biscuit 
could  be  tossed  from  one  to  the  other  ;  but  neither  party 
felt  like  attacking  the  other.     On  the  night  of  the  12th 
Hancock  was  withdrawn  and  marched  nearly  in  McClei- 
lan's  tracks  to  the  James  River,  which  he  crossed  and  ad- 
vanced on  Petersburg.    Grant,  it  seeuis,  had  decided  to 
attack  that  place  at  once ;  but  Hancock  had  received  no 
intimation  of  his  design.     He  was  ordered  to  march  to  a 
given  point  on  a  map,  but  as  that  point  had  no  existence 
off  of  the  map  Hancock  failed  to  find  it.    Had  he  been 
told  to  march  on  Petersburg  he  would  have  done  that 
without  any  map.     As  it  was,  valuable  time  was  lost,  and 


ill  his  front  and 
le  works  he  had 
1  forced  out,  and 
ks  a  few  yards  in 
If  an  hour's  time 
.  After  the  fight- 
at  he  had  got  into 
ready  to  attack  ; 
id  to  join  had  now 
I  the  evening,  the 
the  Second  Corps 
ip,  but  they  were 

Harbor,  the  losses 

Harbor  more  than 
ose  that  a.  biscuit 
but  neither  party 
night  of  the  12th 
nearly  in  McClei- 
he  crossed  and  ad- 
18,  had  decided  to 
k  had  received  no 
red  to  march  to  a 
b  had  no  existence 

it.  Had  he  been 
Id  have  done  that 
5  time  was  lost,  and 


59 

night  fell  before  the  troops  could  be  got  into  posi- 
tion for  operations.  Late  on  the  I6th,  Hancock  and 
Burnside  assailed  the  eiiemy's  position  and  carried  some 
of  his  works ;  but  by  this  time  Lee  had  come  upon  the 
scene,  and  his  whole  army  was  close  at  hand  within  inte- 
rior and  stronger  lines,  to  which  the  works  captured  had 
but  served  as  a  mask.  An  assault  was  made  on  the  inte- 
rior line,  which  was  repulsed.  In  the  operations  since 
crossing  the  James,  Grant  had  lost  10,000  men.  He  now 
sat  down  to  the  siege  of  Petersburg. 

Almost  from  the  l)eginningof  the  campaign  the  wound 
he  had  received  at  Gettysburg  gave  Hancock  great 
trouble.  From  time  to  time  pieces  of  bone  worked  to  the 
surface,  and  any  exertion  more  severe  than  usual  gave 
him  the  most  exquisite  pain.  The  campaign  so  far  had 
been  one  of  the  most  exacting  of  which  the  annals  of  war 
have  any  record.  Day  after  day  of  obstinate  and  bloody 
fi'Thtinrr  were  followed  by  nights  of  weary  marching. 
From  the  Rapidan  to  Cold  Harbor  was  one  continuous 
battle-field.  The  dead  and  wounded  of  the  army,  laid 
lengthwise,  would  have  reached  the  entire  distance.  In 
such  times  the  generals  of  an  army  scarcely  know  what 
rest  is.  They  must  direct  actual  fighting,  accompany 
their  troops  on  the  march,  guard  against  surprises  by  the 
enemy,  plan  near  operations,  and  manage  the  executive 
affairs  of  the  army.  All  this  Hancock  did  while  suffering 
from  a  painful  and  dangerous  wound.  Now,  however,  he 
was  compelled  to  resign  liis  command  for  a  time.     During 


60 

his  absence  his  corps  was  sent  on  an  expedition  to  destroy 
the  Weldon  Railroad,  which  movement  was  only  partiall> 
successful.  Our  forces  were  attacked  by  Hill ;  and  though 
the  enemy  was  finally  driven  off,  the  corps  returned  with- 
out fully  accomplishing  its  mission.  Its  losses  were 
about  two  thousand. 


re 
n< 
al 
hi 

g' 
hi 

ej 

ill 

ol 

R 

P 
r( 

tl 

le 

b( 

w 

oj 

T 

d( 

gi 
K 

f( 


61 


)edition  to  destroy 

was  only  partiall> 

Hill ;  and  though 

rps  returned  with- 

Its  losses   were 


C  H  AFTER    VIII. 

So  soon  as  the  state  of  his  health  permitted,  Hancock 
returned  to  his  command,  where  liis  presence  was  sorely 
needed.  The  gallant  Second  Corps — the  fighting  corps  of 
all  our  armies — was  but  the  shadow  of  its  former  self.  It 
had  occupied  the  post  of  honor  and  of  danger  in  every  en- 
gagement since  the  crossing  of  the  Kapidan,  and  its  losses 
had  been  enormous.  Its  trail  was  a  trail  of  blood.  Dis- 
ease and  fatigue  broke  down  thousands  whom  the  bullet 
iiad  spared ;  other  thousands  went  home  when  their  terms 
of  service  expired ;  and  day  by  day  the  ranks  grew  thinner. 
Regiments  dwindled  to  companies,  and  brigades  to  the 
proportions  of  very  small  regiments.  It  is  true  that 
recruits  were  sent  forward  in  great  numbers ;  but  alas, 
they  were  not  the  material  that  Hancock  had  formerly 
led.  The  men  who  had  waited  till  tempted  by  $1000 
bounties,  and  those  picked  out  by  the  conscription  wheel, 
were  not  the  stuff  of  which  heroes  are  made.  As  the  eye 
of  the  general  glanced  down  his  line  his  he{irt  was  heavy. 
The  gallant  fellows  who  had  charged  into  the  very  jaws  of 
death  at  Fredericksburg ;  who  had  stood  routed  to  the 
ground  in  that  bloody  corn-field  at  Antietam,  where 
Hancock  first  found  them  ;  who  had  faced  both  ways  and 
fought  to  front  and  rear  at  Chancellorville ;   who  had 


f 


62 


rolled  back  the  fiery  Southron  at  Gettysburg  and  g.nitten 
his  host  as  God  smote  Sennaclierib ;  who  had  rwept  over 
the  rebel  lines  at  Spottsylvania  and  North  Anna— where 
were  they  ?  Ah,  God  !  they  were  gone,  the  true  and  the 
tried ;  of  each  it  might  be  said,  as  was  said  of  another 
gallant  soldier : 

Close  his  eyes,  liiH  work  is  done,— 

Vr'liat  to  him  a  friend  or  fo«man, 
Kisc  of  morn  or  set  of  sun, 

Clasp  of  man  or  kiss  of  woman  V 

Lay  him  low 

In  the  clover  or  the  snow. 

What  carL's  he  Y    He  cannot  know ! 

Lay  him  low. 

The  new  recruits  were   entirely   undisciplined;   but 
there    was   little    time    to   teach    them    even  the  rudi- 
ments of  the  art  of  war.    The  duties  of  the  siege  were 
very  severe.     The  utmost  vigilance  had  to  be  observed 
to  guard  against  surprise.     Picket  and  guard  duty  and 
the  incessant  skirmishes  and   alarms  of  the  siege  left 
little  time  for  drill.     Nevertheless,  duty  must  be  done ; 
and  on  the  night  of  July  26  Hancock  was  started  across 
the  Jamas  to  threaten   Richmond  from  the  north  side. 
Lee  followed  with  five  divisions,  convinced  that  where 
Hancock   went  there   was  business  to  be  done.     This 
time  he  was  mistaken.      Hancock   took  post  at   Deep 
Bottom,  a  short  distance  above  Malvern  Hill,  where  he 
employed  himself  in  making   demonstrations  to  amuse 
I^ee.    Some  little  skirmishing  was  done,  but  no  serious 


fig 
k€ 
vl 
oi 
m 
n( 

Pf 
til 
C 
ei 

C( 

tl 
Ji 

ej 
ol 
fe 
tl 
at 
c< 
ri 

tl 

tl 
n 

SI 

u 

fi 
li 


r 


88 


:)urg  and  g.nitten 
3  had  pwept  over 
th  Anna — whore 
the  true  and  the 
i  said  of  another 


know! 

ndisciplined ;   but 
11    even  the  rudi- 
of  the  siege  were 
d  to  be  observed 
I  guard  duty  and 
of  the  siege  left 
ty  must  be  done ; 
was  started  across 
m  the  north  side, 
rinced  that  where 
3  be  done.     This 
ok  post  at   Deep 
rn  Hill,  where  he 
jtrations  to  amuse 
He,  but  no  serious 


fighting,  as  Hancock's  business  was  not  to  fight,  but  to 
keep  as  large  a  fo"ce  as  possible  away  from  Petersburg  in 
view  of  operations  which  it  was  hoped  would  deliver  that 
city  into  our  hands.     For  some  weeks  Burnside  liad  been 
mining  the  rebel  works,  and  had  now  dug  under  a  fort 
near  Cemetery  Hill.     It  was  proposed,  while  a  large  pro- 
portion of  the  garrison  was  away  to  watch  Hancock,  that 
the  mine  should  be  fired,  Burnside  should  rush  in,  occupy 
Cemetery   Hill   and   intrench   liimself  there   l)efore  the 
enemy  could  concentrate  against  hmi  ;   and,  as  this  hill 
commanded  the  town,  it  was  hoped  that  the  siege  would 
thus  be  practically   ended.     Early   on   the   morning   of 
July  30,  the  mine,  containing  four  tons  of  powder,  was 
exploded ;  the  fort  was  blown  into  the  air  and  i*^  3  garrison 
of  300  men  destroyed.     The  rebels  were  paralyzed  with 
fear,  and  hastily  ran  out  of  the  works  on  both  sides  of 
the  mine.     Had  the  assaulting  column  moved  promptly, 
as  was  intended,  the  whole  afifair  would  have  been  suc- 
cessful.    But   Burnside  was  late,  as  usual.     Instead  of 
rushing  in  at  once  and  taking  advantage  of  the  panic 
within  the  rebel  lines,  valuable  time  was  lost,  and  when 
the  division  did  advance  it  halted  in  the  hole  made  by 
the   explosion,  called  the  crater.     A   single   regiment 
moved  forward   toward   Cemetery  Hill,  but,  not  being 
supported,  it  fell  back.    At  length  the  enemy  brought 
up  troops,  planted  guns,  and  begun  pouring  a  murderous 
fire  upon  the  division  huddled  together  in  the  crater 
like  rats  in  a  hole.      A  few  escaped;  but  our  loss  was 


64 

about  4,000,  of  whom  nearly  ono  half  were  made  pris- 
oiiora.  The  mining  o[)eiation3  having  failed,  Hancock 
was  recalled. 

On  August  I2th  Hancock  was  again  sent  to  the  north 
side  of  the  James.  Grant  felt  that  his  siege  of  Peters- 
burg was  little  more  than  a  farce.  He  sat  on  one  side  of 
a  line  of  works  and  Lee  sat  on  the  other.  Grant  received 
supplies  by  the  James  River,  Leo  received  his  by  railroads. 
Grant  desired  to  seize  Leu's  means  of  communication  and 
thus  besiege  him  in  reality  ;  and  his  design  in  sending  a 
new  expedition  to  threaten  Richmond  from  the  north  was 
to  draw  away  sufficient  strength  from  the  garrison  to  leave 
him  free  to  make  an  attempt  on  the  Weldon  Railroad,  one 
of  the  chief  sources  of  the  rebel  supplies.  Accordingly 
Hancock  once  more  crossed  the  James  and  advanced  to- 
ward Richmond  across  the  old  Malvern  Hill  battle-field.  At 
first  it  appeared  that  the  rebels  had  not  been  deceived 
into  following  him,  and  he  made  some  serious  assaults  on 
their  lines.  The  operations,  though  intended  only  as  a 
demonstration  in  force,  resulted  in  pretty  hard  fighting. 
Hancock  gained  some  advantages,  and  carried  a  portion 
of  the  enemy's  works ;  but  the  purpose  his  expedition 
was  intended  to  serve  had  never  been  accomplished,  and 
he  was  once  more  recalled.  His  losses  in  this  reconnois- 
sance  were  about  five  thousand ;  thoso  of  the  enemy  were 
nearly  or  quite  as  great. 

So  soon  as  it  became  evident  that  a  considerable  part 
of  the  garrison  of  Petersl)urg  had  been  sent  away  to  pro- 


were  made  pris- 
failed,  Huncock 

sent  to  the  north 
siege  of  Petors- 
lat  on  one  side  of 
.  Grant  received 
id  his  by  railroads. 
>mmunication  and 
ign  in  sending  a 
•om  the  north  was 
B  garrison  to  leave 
don  Railroad,  one 
ea.  Accordingly 
iind  advanced  to- 
[ill  battle-field.  At 
ot  been  deceived 
ierious  assaults  on 
tended  only  as  a 
ity  hard  fighting, 
carried  a  portion 
3e  his  expedition 
iccomplished,  and 
I  in  this  reconnois- 
f  the  enemy  were 

considerable  part 
sent  away  to  pro- 


ti5 

tect  ttie  rebel  capital,  Warren  moved  toward  the  Weldori 
Railroad,  which  he  took  without  much  resistance,  and  for- 
tified himself  before  Leo  could  bring  to  the  spot  enough 
troops  to  drive  him  off.  The  gain  to  our  side  was  not 
great,  however  ;  for  Lee  continued  to  receive  supplies  by 
the  Weldon  road,  only  being  compelled  to  wagon  them 
from  Reams  Station  around  Warren's  left. 

To  put  a  stop  to  this,  Hancock  was  sent,  on  the  21st  of 
August,  to  take  Roams  Station  and  to  destroy  the  railroad 
for  a  considerable  distance  south  of  it.  He  ref.clied  tlie 
point  indicated,  destroyed  some  property,  posted  one  of 
his  divisions  to  protect  his  rear,  and  with  the  other  two 
divisions  began  tearing  up  the  road.  Tlie  next  day  he 
was  assailed  by  Hill  in  strong  force.  A  severe  fight  en- 
sued, in  which  Hill  was  badly  punished;  but  some  of 
Hancock's  new  troops  did  not  behave  well,  and  he  was 
compelled  to  fall  back  with  loss.  He  called  for  help  ;  but, 
though  troops  lay  within  four  miles  of  him,  none  went  to 
his  assistance.  In  the  end  he  was  compelled  to  retire, 
having  lost  two  thoueand  men  and  some  guns.  Hill's  loss 
was  much  greater. 

No  serious  attempt  was  made  on  either  side,  for  some 
weeks  after  the  failure  of  this  expedition  ;  but  on  the 
27th  of  October  the  Second,  Fifth  and  Ninth  Corps 
moved  completely  around  Lee's  right,  with  intent  to  cut 
all  his  communications  south  of  the  Appomattox.  It  was 
believed  that  this  would  compel  Lee  to  evacuate  Peters- 
burg, and  possibly  Richmond  also.     The  column  moved 


I 


i 


^^ 


.linT^tly  woBt  from  tl.o  extromo  lo^t  of  our  lines,  and  then 
nicud  north.     Hancock's  intonti..n  was  to  close  his  ripht 
upon  the  left  of  Warr(M.,  and  it  was  riiporlcd  that  this 
l.ad  hoon  done  ;  l.ut  in  fact  a  space  of  twelve   imn.lred 
yard;  had  boon  left  unfilled.     The  ground  was  swampy 
and  so  thickly  wooded  that  it  was  impossible  to  know  ex- 
actly how   the   troops  were  posted.     Heth's  division  of 
IliU's  corps,  reeonnoiterin-  our  position,  stumbled  upon 
this  gap,  and  got  upon  Hancock's  flank  before  they  were 
observed,  and  before  they  '.hemselvos  knew  of  their  pe- 
(udiar  situation.     Hut  on  discovering  our  men,  the  rebels 
charge.1   our  flank  and  doubled   up  a  brigade  of  Mott'H 
.livis'ion.       Hancock    instantly   sent    Egan's  brigade   to 
charge  Heth ;  but  Egan  had  already  moved  on  his  own 
responsibility,  concluding,  like  the  good  soldier  he  was, 
that   the   best    thing  to   do   when   he    saw   his    enemy 
was  to  attack  him.     Thus  the  flankers  found  themselves 
flanked,  and  Heth  was   driven   back    with  considerable 

loss. 

Grant  now  sent  word  to  Hancock  to  take  comma.ul  ot 
the  whole  movement,  and  to  act  as  in  his  judgment 
seemed  best.  Hancock  was  fully  aware  of  t  in  nnportance 
of  the  stake  for  which  he  was  playing ;  but  he  knew  also 
the  perils  of  his  position.  He  might  gain  everything ; 
capture  all  Lee's  lines  of  communication  south  of  the 
Appomattox,  and  so  compel  the  evacuation  of  Petersburg  ; 
and  he  might,  on  the  other  hand,  have  his  own  communi- 
cations   with    the    army    severed,   be   overwhelmed   by 


67 


ir  linos,  and  thoU 
to  close  his  riplit 
ipovtoil  tliiit  this 

twelve  liiimlred 
iiul  WHS  swiiinpy 
sihlo  to  know  ox- 
[eth's  division  ol" 
1,  stumhled   upon 

befo'-e  tliey  were 
:now  of  their  pe- 
ir  men,  the  rel)el« 
brigade  of  Mott'H 
!;4air8  hrij^'iide  to 
loved  on  his  own 
)d  soldier  ho  was, 
saw   his    enemy 

found  themselves 
with   considerable 

1  take  command  of 
i  in  his  judgment 
!of  I  hi  miportance 

but  he  knew  also 
;  gain  everything ; 
tion  south  of  the 
,ion  of  Petersburg ; 
his  own  communi- 

overwhelmed   by 


numbers,  and  compelled  to  capitulate.  His  ammunition 
was  insufficient  for  continued  operations  ;  he  knew  that  a 
strong  force  was  gathering  in  hi«  front;  the  ground  was 
difficult  for  offensive  operations  and  favorable  to  the 
(sneniy  ;  and  the  troops  under  his  command  were  not  the 
best  in  the  world.  Reluctantly  —  very  r(!luctuiiMy  —  he 
decided  to  abandon  the  enterprise  ;  and  the  forces  engaged 
in  it  returned  to  the  lines  in  front  of  Petersi>urg.  Our 
losses  in  this  expedition  were  one  thousand  five  hundred  ; 
those  of  the  enemy  two  thousand  to  two  Ihousand  five 
hundred. 

There  was  little  more  fighting  in  front  of  Petersburg. 
The  armies  settled  down  in  their  Winter  ([uarters.  There 
was  continuous  skirmishing  and  picket-firing  and  a  great 
deal  of  cannonading;  but  movements  of  troops  on  a 
large  scale  were  suspended.  In  the  Spring,  Graivt  deter- 
mined to  make  one  more  desperate  attempt  to  carry  the 
enemy's  works.  Lee,  however,  did  not  await  hi,-  assault, 
but  hastily  (juitted  the  beleaguered  city,  and  marched  to 
join  Johnston.  lie  would  then  have  a  hundred  thousand 
men,  but  he  would  find  himself  wedged  in  between  Grant 
on  the  north  and  Sherman,  now  rapidly  approaching  from 
the  south.  He  probably  hoped  to  be  able  to  attack  and 
beat  one  of  these  antagonists  before  the  other  could  corao 
up.  But  certain  provision  trains  which  he  counted  on 
taking  with  him  had  been  ordered  by  Jeff.  Davis  to  Rich- 
mond, and  Lee  found  himself  without  supplies.  His 
army  broke  up,  and  being  vigorously  pursued,  the  portion 


which  romiiinofl  with  him  siuTondorod  at   Appomattox 
Court  IIoiiHu. 

Ill  thoso  olosiuf?  Hoonert  of  the  struggle,  Hancock  did 
not  take  i.ait.  On  November  26,  1804,  he  was  recalled 
t«)  Washington,  witli  orders  to  rotMuit  a  veteran  corps  for 
service  on  other  fields.  IJoforo  that  duty  could  be  per- 
formed the  war  was  brought  to  a  close,  and  the  strife 
which  had  cost  the  country  a  million  lives  and  numy 
tliousands  of  millions  of  accumulated  wealtli,  ended  in  a 
restoration  of  the  Union  as  it  was,  except  that  involun- 
tiiry  servitude  was  blotted  out  of  existence.  The  vast 
hosts  of  armed  men  returned  to  the  pursuits  of  peace, 
and  the  disunited  sections  agreed  to  "  shake  hands  across 
the  Ijloody  dmsm,"  and  to  repair  so  far  as  they  could  the 
evil  effects  of  the  fratricidal  conlliot. 

A  small  army  was  needed  for  protection  against 
In<lians ;  and  in  this  Hancock  decided  to  remain.  Only 
a  few  of  the  many  gallant  leaders  who  had  gained  promi- 
nence in  the  struggle,  could  in  the  reorganized  army 
receive  positions  at  all  commensurate  with  their  abilities 
or  their  rank  in  the  volunteer  service.  Grant  and  Sher- 
man, the  commanders  of  the  two  great  armies,  were,  of 
course,  made  General  and  Lieutenant  General.  Hancock 
8to(  d  among  the  next  in  rank,  and  was  made  a  Major 
General.  He  was  at  first  given  command  over  the  Cen- 
tral Military  Department ;  then  over  that  of  Louisiana  and 
Texas,  where  the  utmost  firmi»ess  and  prudence  were 
required.     From  1870  to  1872  he  commanded  the  Depart- 


6» 


i  at   Appomattox 

glo,  Hancook  did 

he  waH  reoallud 

votoran  corps  for 

iity  could  bo  por- 

80,  and  tho  Htrifo 

lives  and   many 

iroaltli,  ended  in  a 

sept  that  involun- 

steiice.     The  vast 

)ursuitrt  of  peace, 

hake  hands  across 

as  they  could  the 

)rotoction  against 
to  remain.  Only 
lad  gained  pronii- 
reorganized  army 
,vith  their  abilities 
Grant  and  Sher- 
t  armies,  were,  of 
reneral.  Hancock 
iras  made  a  Major 
land  over  the  Cen- 
\i  of  Louisiana  and 
id  prudence  were 
landed  the  Depart- 


ment of  Dakota ;  and  in  tho  year  last  named,  on  tho 
death  of  General  Meade,  he  was  removed  to  tho  Deiiart- 
ment  of  the  East,  with  headquarters  at  New  York,  where 
he  remains  at  present. 


70 


CHAPTER    IX. 

In  politics  Hancock  is  a  Democrat.  Rat  during  tlie 
war  he  continually  rged  that  party  lines  should  he  ahan- 
doned.  'Die  war  was  a  war  for  the  Union ;  and  that  issue 
was  of  sucli  transcendent  importance  that  a  patriotic  man 
could,  he  thought,  waste  no  time  for  mere  partisan  squab- 
bles. When  the  country  itself  was  in  danger  of  going  to 
pieces,  the  first  duty  was  to  restore  it  to  peace  and  pros- 
perity ;  then  would  come  the  time  to  consider  who  were 
llie  best  men  to  hold  office. 

In  the  Democr.itie  National  Convention  held  in  New 
York  in  18G8,  Hancock  was  urged  for  the  presidential 
nomination.  On  the  eigiiteentli  baHot  he  received  144^ 
votes,  the  largest  number  given  any  candidate  except 
Pendleton,  who  on  the  twelfth  ballot  had  received  145^ 
votes.  Rut  on  the  twenty-second,  Horatio  Seymour  was 
nominated  by  the  unanimous  voice  of  thic  Convention. 

Hancock  is  famed  for  his  hospitality.  He  entertains 
in  princely  style,  a  habit  his  ample  fortune  permits  him 
to  indulge  in  to  his  heart's  content.  He  may  almost  be 
said  to  keep  open  house  at  his  licadquarters  on  Governor's 
Island.  He  is  well  read,  has  a  fine  critical  taste  in  litera- 
ture, and  is  a  writer  of  no  mean  ability.  In  his  personal 
appearance  he  is  fortunate.     Not  a  few   of  his  friends 


c 

tl 

h 
'I 

a 
ii 
o 
h 
c 
f{ 
it 
a 
tl 
h 
w 
n 

S] 

b 
V 

d 
t( 
b 
tl 
d 
tl 
n: 

b 


71 


Rat  during  tlie 
J  should  he  ahiiu- 
n ;  and  that  issue 
it  a  patriotic  man 
•e  partisan  squab- 
anger  of  going  to 
)  peace  and  prot,- 
nsider  who  were 

,ion  heUl  in  New 
the  presidential 
lie  received  144^ 
candidate  except 
ad  received  XA^r^ 
itio  Seymour  was 
b  Convention. 
^  He  entertains 
,une  permits  him 
.e  may  almost  be 
,ers  on  Governor's 
cal  taste  in  lite  ra- 
in his  personal 
\v   of  his  friends 


claimed  for  him  that  he  was  the  finest  looking  soldier  in 
the  army. 

His  success  as  a  soldier  resulted  almost  entirely  from 
his  personal  qualities  and  his  eminent  fitness  to  command. 
The  leading  point  in  his  character  is  his  ability  to  take  in 
all  the  details  of  a  situation  at  a  single  glance  ;  to  decide 
instantly  what  should  be  done,  and  to  give  the  necessary 
orders  without  a  moment's  hesitation.  This  all-compre- 
hending vision  is  the  first  requisite  of  a  aoldier.  "  Tl»e 
chess-board,"  said  Napoleon  at  a  peculiar  juncture  of  af- 
fairs, "is  very  much  tangled  ;  it  is  I  only  who  see  through 
it."  Hancock  saw  through  the  intricacies  of  the  game  at 
a  glance.  At  Williamsburg,  after  seizing  the  works  on 
the  rebel  left  he  was  ordered  l)ack ;  Siunner  feared  that 
ho  would  be  isohitod  and  captured.  But  Hancock  saw, 
what  Sumner  did  not  know,  tliat  the  point  taken  com- 
manded the  whole  rcl)cl  position,  and  lie  took  the  re- 
sponsibility of  refusing  to  obey  orders — a  grave  responsi- 
bility; but  the  event  justified  him.  At  Cold  Harbor 
Warren  took  the  responsil)ility  of  not  fighting  when  or- 
dered. Swinton  sa3's  that  after  orders  had  been  received 
to  attack  the  rebel  works,  protected  by  {|,battis,  flanked 
by  impassable  swamps,  lined  with  skilled  marksmen,  and 
tiieir  front  swept  by  a  hundred  guns,  as  the  General  rode 
down  his  lines  he  saw  the  men  preparing  for  action  with 
their  accustomed  alacrity ;  but  they  were  writing  their 
names  on  slips  of  paper  which  they  pinned  to  their 
blouses,  that   their  bodies  might  be  recognized  when  the 


72 

fight  was  over.  It  was  too  much ;  the  itieft  WefS  will- 
ing to  bo  led  io  certain  death ;  but  Warren  was  not 
willing  to  lead  them  there,  and  he  refused  to  obey  his 
orders.  At  Gettysburg  Hancock  had  scarce  reached  the 
ground  when  he  decided  that  the  battle  ought  to  bo  fought 
there  and  not  at  any  other  place.  A  single  glance  told 
liira  everything.  His  eyes  svept  along  Cemetery  Ridge 
from  Gulp's  Hill  to  Round  Top ;  and,  without  wasting  a 
single  moment  in  examining  the  details  of  the  position, 
ho  notified  Meade  of  the  conclusions  he  had  reached,  and 
began  to  post  tlie  troops. 

His  judgment  is  equal  to  this  intuition.  He  reluctantly 
decided  not  to  press  the  advantage  gained  on  Lee's  right 
at  Petersburg,  in  October,  1864.  But  we  have  not  found 
a  military  critic  to  condemn  his  action.  But  this  is  the 
solitary  instance  in  his  military  history  when  he  declined 
to  meet  the  enemy  on  anything  like  equal  terms.  He 
generally  marched  toward  the  battle-field.  "  I  always 
know  where  to  find  Hancock,"  said  Grant.  The  import- 
ance of  the  two  qualities  mentioned — his  instant  perception 
and  his  excellent  judgment — may  be  appreciated  from  the 
number  of  instances  in  which  he  saved  the  army  from  dis- 
aster. At  Williamsburg  his  seizure  of  the  earthworks 
near  Fort  Magruder  compelled  the  rebels  to  evacuate  the 
position  they  had  held.  At  Glendale,  when  Stonewall 
Jackson  was  endeavoring  to  rejoin  Lee  and  thus  unite  the 
rebel  army  against  half  of  ours,  Hancock  stood  like  a 
lion  in  the  way,  and  the  Stonewall  Division  found  "no 


th( 
th( 

Wf 

in 

asl 
hii 
Ai 
no 
th 

an 
th 
fr( 
as 
al 
w 
pc 

di 
an 
th 
m 
in 
w 
h^ 
tJ 
fi« 
ca 


1 


78 


5  men  were  will- 
Wavren  was  not 
sfused  to  obey  his 
larce  reached  the 
ought  to  be  fought 
single  glance  told 
Cemetery  Ridge 
yithout  wasting  a 
is  of  the  position, 
I  had  reached,  and 

1.  He  reluctantly 
ned  on  Lee's  right 
we  have  not  found 
.  But  this  is  the 
when  he  declined 
equal  terms.  He 
field.  "  I  always 
int.  The  iraport- 
i  instant  perception 
preciated  from  the 
the  army  from  dis- 
»f  the  earthworks 
3ls  to  evacuate  the 
3,  when  Stonewall 
and  thus  unite  the 
icock  stood  like  a 
ivision  found  "  no 


thoroughfare"  there.  If  Jackson's  way  had  not  been  barred 
the  consequences  would  have  been  disastrous.  Hancock 
was  thanked  in  general  orders  for  conspicuous  gallantry 
in  that  engagement.  At  Chancellorville  he  averted  dis- 
aster at  a  most  critical  moment.  At  Gettysburg  he  proved 
himself  the  savior  of  the  army  no  less  than  three  times. 
And  it  was  only  his  magnificent  fighting  at  the  Wilder- 
ness and  at  Spottsylvania  that  enabled  Grant  to  pull 
through  on  those  terrible  days  without  positive  defeat. 

Hancock  is  eminently  a  leader  of  men.  His  presence 
animates  and  inspires  his  soldiers.  They  recognize  in  him 
the  commander  who  is  determined  to  have  a  soldier's  duty 
from  a  soldier  ;  but  also  the  general  who  knows  what  he 
asks  of  men  and  who  never  requires  impossibilities.  Above 
all,  they  recognize  their  moral  and  intellectual  superior, 
whose  will-power  moves  the  machine.  It  is  this  native 
power — the  power  which  made  the  old  Greek  heroes 
"  kings  of  men  " — which  fills  up  and  rounds  out  the  sol- 
dierly character.  The  battle-field  is  a  crucial  test.  Sham 
and  pretence  go  for  little  there.  A  man  may  as  well  pat 
the  padding  of  his  coat,  and  call  it  his  heart,  as  to  look  for 
mere  assumption  to  bear  him  through  when  armies  meet 
in  the  dread  shock  and  savagery  of  war.-  In  that  very 
whirl  and  hell  of  destruction  Hancock  rose  to  his  grandest 
heights.  A  cup  of  tea  or  a  bottle  of  wine  brings  out  all 
the  reserved  power  a  little  man  has  stored  away  ;  a  battle- 
field only  can  bring  up  from  their  depths  the  ultimate 
capabilities  of  a  gr^at  soldier. 


r 

i 


J 


74: 

71 

America  will  hold  the  name  of  Hancock  in  grateful 
remembrance;  and  the  world  will  rank  him  among  the 
hard  fighters  —  the  Cromwells,  the  Neys,  the  Murats,  the 
Stonewall  Jacksons  —  who  believed  that  war  was  a  thing 
of  terrible  earnestness,  and  that  blows  are  no  blows  unless 
struck  with  intent  to  hurt,     He  has  not  yet  been  called 
to  lead  armies ;  but  where  he  has  had  an  opportunity  to 
display  generalship  he  has  shown  high  ability.     But  he 
will  be  remembered  as  the  hard  hitter,  the  strong  fighter, 
to  whom  his  countrymen  may  point  as  to  a  paladin  among 
gallant  knights,  without  fear  and  without  reproach  ;   one 
whose  deeds  our  children  and  our  children's  children  will 
read  with  admiration   and   pride  ;    whose   achievements 
history  will  delight  to  record  :    and  whose  memory  pos- 
terity will  preserve  in  her  muster-roll  of  men  who  have 
deserved  well  of  their  country.     And  the  genius  of  fame 
in  after  years  will  garland  his  brow  with  laurel,  and, 
pointing  to  the  name  of  Hancock,  will  "say  to  all  the 
world.  This  was  a  man  ! " 


ncock  in  grateful 
;  him  among  the 
,  the  Murats,  the 
i  war  was  a  thing 
e  no  blows  unless 
)t  yet  been  called 
in  opportunity  to 
ability.  But  he 
he  strong  fighter, 

I  a  paladin  among 
at  reproach  ;  one 
en's  children  will 
3se  achievements 
lose  memory  pos- 
of  men  who  have 
be  genius  of  fame 
with  laurel,  and, 

II  "say  to  all  the 


THb 


BALLET  DAJTCER'S 
HUSBAND. 


By  ERNEST  I  i  /DEAU. 


Tbanslatbd  fbom  thb  frknck  ut  Mabt  Nial  Shbrwood^ 


"A  bright  and  entertaining  novel." 

"  Replete  with  characteristic  incidents  of  Parisian  life." 

"  There  are  few  translations  or  '  adaptations '  from  the  French 
that  can  be  called  '  as  good  as  the  original,'  but  Mrs.  Sherwood 
has  been  highly  successful  in  this  kind  of  literary  labor,  and  her 
work  bears  the  stamp  not  only  of  familiarity  with  a  foreign  lan- 
guage, but  with  her  own,  which  is  always  expressed  in  terse  and 
flowing  phrases." 

The  enterprising  publishing  firm,  Henry  A.  Sumner  &  Co., 
Chicago,  have  a  valuable  acquisition  in  Mrs.  Mary  Neal  Sher- 
wood, who  has  just  been  engaged  by  them  to  tr?..i'ate  Feydeau's 
great  Novel,  "  Le  Mari  dela  Danseuse,"  which  i  -::  an  immense 
hit  in  Paris  some  years  ago.  Mrs.  Sherwood's  sba..  of  the  work 
is  sure  to  be  spiritedly  and  conscientiously  done,  and  the  English 
version  can  not  fail  of  interesting  American  readers,  whose  all- 
abiding  faith  in  the  seriousness  of  French  idioms  has  been 
severely  abused  by  the  countless  school-girl  translations  which 
have  clogged  the  literary  market,  and  hutt  the  ssjes  here  of  sev- 
er.il  of  the  greatest  French  novels  of  the  present  day. — Gazette, 
Boston,  March  27. 

For  sale  by  all  Booksellers. 

Will  be  issued  in  May,  and  will  be  one  of  our  popular  12mos. 
at  one  dollar. 

HENRY  A.  SUMNER  &  CO.,  Publishers, 

Lakaald*  Buildlnsi  OhIoaBO* 


Xisr     I»K,ESS.       Hi.  A.3DY     IIST     JTJiTBJ, 


1 


A  New   Edition 


II 


I 


BAYNES'  ESSAYS 


BIOGRAPHY  AND  CRITICISM. 


The  I  St  Series,  embracing  426  pp.,  contains  articles 
on  Thomas  l)e  Quincey  and  his  Works.Tennyson  and 
his  Tcacliers,  Mrs.  Barrett  Browning,  Glimpses  of 
recent  British  Art,  Ruskin  and  his  Critics,  Hugh 
Miller,  Dickens,  Buhver,  Thackeray,  Currer  Bell,  etc. 

In  the  2d  Series  of  392  pages,  the  contents  will  be 
found  equally  interesting,  covering,  as  it  does,  the 
works  of  Charles  Kingsiey,  Tliomas  B.  Macaulay, 
Sir  Archibald  Alison,  Samutl  T.iylor  Coleridge,  Wel- 
lingtr-n,  Napoleon  Btjnaparte,  PhUo,  Characteristics  of 
(Christian  Civilization,  The  Modern  University,  The 
Puljjit  and  the  Press,  "The  Testimony  of  the  Rocks," 
a  defence. 

Uniform  in  size  and  binding,  printed  ,on  good 
pa[)er,  and  offered  at  $1,00  per  volume,  they  are 
among  the  cheapest  books  in  the  market.  Advaiue 
orders  solicited. 

Address  the  publishers: 

HEHRY  A    SUMNER  £  COMPANY, 

L:ike8lde   Building,   Chioago. 


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s  articles 
lyson  and 
mpscs  of 
:s,  JIugh 
Bell,  etc. 

ts  will  be 
docs,  the 
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Ige,  Wel- 
L;ristics  of 
sity.  The 
;  Rocks," 

,on  good 
they  are 
Advaiue 


ANY, 

,   Chicago. 


WHAT  THE  PRESS  SAY  OF 


FROM  THE 

FRENCH 


ODETTE'S 

MARRIAGE 


OF 
ALBERT  DELPIT. 


Tkt  N.  Y.  EvtHing  Put,  of  April  19,  Myi: 
"  The  story  is  told  with  clevernc<is,  and  there  id  an  intensity  of 
interest  in  it  which  oaly  very  cleverly  told  dramatic  stories  have." 

Thi  PitUiurgk  TtUgrapk,  of  April  9,  uyi: 

"  A  romance  of  remarkable  power,  but  decidedly  French  in  its 
many-sided  phases." 

The  Pkifadtlpkia  Titnei,  of  April  n,  layi : 

"  It  is  a  singularly  well-contrived  and  well-written  novel.    * 

♦  *  As  a  further  indication  of  the  high  literary  standing  of  the 
hoolc,  the  fact  may  be  mentioned  that  it  was  published  originally 
as  a  serial  in  the  Revue des  Deux-Mondes" 

Tkt  National  Journnl  «f  Education,  of  Boston,  for  April  15,  lays ; 

"  This  is  a  charming,  gr.nd  story.  *  *  *  \  book  in  such 
an  atiractive  style  is  a  luxury." 

The  National  Literary  Montkly,  of  Toledo,  Ohio,  for  May,  tayi ! 

"  This  is  a  thoroughly  interesting  story,  beautifully  told.    *    * 

♦  The  book  before  us  is  a  noticeable  exception  10  this  general 
rule  of  the  past.  From  first  to  last  the  language  is  cha.sie  and 
pure,  and  the  scenes  both  interesting  and  exalting.  It  teaches 
a  forcible  lesson." 

iKventert'  and  ttanu/acturtrs'  Catetle,  of  Boston,  for  May,  says : 

*•  Scenes  are  vividly  sketched,  and  to  the  life,  and  the  characters 
are  drawn  with  the  boldness  of  an  able  novelist.  It  will  be  read 
by  all  classes."  • 

Uiiinue  in  style  of  binding.  C!early  printed  on  fine  paper. 
Odfttes  Marriage  is  offered  at  $1.00. 

Mailed,  p«)at-free,  on  receipt  of  the  price  by  the  publishers, 

HENRY  A.  SUMNER  &  COMPANY, 

_ -,  ,       „  ,    ,       ,.„...  I-akealde  Uulldlne,  CIiIcuro. 

^P^For  Itale  by  all  Booksellers, 


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iiimfriiwMmitwtf'iiMriintiiiffiiraiiwwiffWiBiBrwrawTr' 


